By Tommy Wells | Special to the Index
THROCKMORTON – The Leuders-Avoca Raiders did the unimaginable on Friday night.
The Raiders scored with 20 seconds left in regulation and posted a stunning 40-38 upset win over the Strawn Greyhounds in the bi-district round of the Division II six-man playoffs.
With the win, Lueders-Avoca improved to 6-5 and will now advance to play Bryson in the second round. Strawn ends its season at 6-5.
Turnovers plagued the Greyhounds, who made their earliest exit from the playoffs since 2003. Strawn fumbled the ball four times – two of which set up Raider touchdowns.
Lueders, which won its first district championship this fall in more than 40 years, needed a last-minute miracle to escape with the win. Trailing 38-34 with 2:37 left, the Raiders drove to the Strawn 15 before the Greyhounds’ defense forced them into a fourth-and-10 situation.
On the last play, Lueders’ Nathan Niehues raced around the right end for a touchdown.
Strawn’s marched to the L-A 30 before its final desperation pass fell incomplete.
The Greyhounds jumped on top early in the game. Junior defensive end Bobby Wells gave Strawn an early 2-0 lead by dropping Raiders’ quarterback Robert Hubbard for a safety on Lueders’ first play from scrimmage.
The Raiders battled back on their ensuing possession, taking a 7-2 lead on a 23-yard run by running back Niehues.
Aaron Dole gave Strawn the lead back moments later. The senior fullback crashed in from five yards out to give Strawn a 10-7 lead with 5:01 left in the opening stanza.
Strawn picked up a 35-yard TD run later in the first from running back Cole Abbott and carried an 18-13 lead into the second.
The Greyhounds looked as if they would pull away in the second. Senior Ismael Martinez pushed his way into the end zone from four yards out midway through the frame and gave Strawn a 24-13 lead.
Lueders, however, answered back. They cut Strawn’s lead to 24-20 with 1:22 left in the half on a five-yard scoring pass.
Lueders built on its momentum in the third. The Raiders scored twice in the early minutes of the second half and grabbed a 34-24 advantage.
Wells pulled the ‘Hounds close in the closing minutes of the third. Facing a third-and-10 from their own six, Strawn quarterback Harrison Nowak itched the ball to Wells, who sprinted around the left side for 74 yards and a touchdown.
The score pulled Strawn to within 34-30 with 40 seconds left in the third quarter.
The SHS offense struck again late in the fourth quarter, taking a 38-34 cushion when Wells scored on a one-yard plunge.
The Greyhounds’ final TD was set up moments earlier by the SHS defense. Junior defensive end John Thomas tackled Niehues at the Strawn 5 on a fourth-down play.
Local Sports
Lueders-Avoca upsets Strawn in playoff opener
- Local Sports
-
-
Football Rams working hard, getting ready for 2012 season
In preparation for the 2012 football season, the Mineral Wells Rams are using their daily athletics period to put in offensive and defensive schemes while also getting bigger and stronger in the weight room.
-
Rams' playoff run ends
ABILENE – Andrews went into Saturday's regional semi-final first game opting to save their No. 2 pitcher for a possible game three. They didn't need him.
-
Bi-district title highlight of Lady Rams' softball season
On the surface, it appeared the Mineral Wells Lady Rams softball team took a step back after all was played out in the 2012 season.
-
Rams drop opener, 4-3
Andrews scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and hung on to defeat the Mineral Wells Rams, 4-3, in game one of a Class 3A best-of-three regional semifinals series.
-
Catcher big part of Rams pitchers' success
Much has been written and said about the dominating pitching performances in the 2012 Class 3A baseball playoffs of Mineral Wells High School senior Hunter McCoy and junior Matt “Moose” Tincher.
-
Run continues
For many of the Mineral Wells Rams, advancing to the fourth round of the Class 3A baseball playoffs is something they never imagined they would experience.
-
Baseball team experiencing deepest playoff run in history
Sweeping Big Spring and Abilene Wylie, the Rams baseball team advances to the fourth round of the Class 3A playoffs.
-
Rams used pitching, defense, 'little things' to win series
Pitching, timely hitting and solid defense, along with doing the “little things” at the right moments have been the key ingredients of the Mineral Wells Rams and their march to the regional semifinals of the Class 3A baseball playoffs.
-
Rams roll Wylie to advance
EASTLAND – For the second straight weekend, The Mineral Wells Rams are two and through to the next round.
-
Weathers receives $2,500 scholarship; Colbert, Corona earn top awards at presentation
Mineral Wells senior Adrian Colbert came away with three top awards and senior Eli Weathers received the school’s first-ever National Football League Former Player’s Association scholarship Thursday at the Mineral Wells Booster club Athletic Awards Presentation at the MWHS auditorium.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
