High School Sports

By HAROLD WILSON
Staff Writer

LUFKIN - One bad snap and two failed conversions cost John Tyler dearly in a one-point loss to Lufkin.

JT matched Lufkin with a pair of touchdowns, but the Lions had an extra-point attempt blocked and failed on a try for two to fall short in their upset bid against the Panthers, 13-12, Friday night in front of nearly 9,000 onlookers at a packed Abe Martin Stadium.

Trailing by one with less than five minutes left, JT reached the Lufkin 17 on a 15-yard run by De'Trich Morgan. Due to an errant snap on the very next play, JT lost 24 yards to fall out of field position. Moments later, Lufkin's DeMarquez Freeman intercepted Jeremy Johnson's fourth-down heave to Demetree Curtis in the end zone to seal the deal with 2:23 showing.

"The kids fought, fought and fought," JT coach Dereck Rush said. "We just have to build off this and get better."

Lufkin (2-0) proved to be the comeback Pack for the second straight week against a Tyler school. Last week, Lufkin erased a 14-point halftime deficit in a win over Robert E. Lee.

Starting the fourth quarter, Lufkin trailed JT, 12-7, before senior running back Tre'Von Lewis located his stride. Lewis stepped off 37 yards on a run up the middle and around the edge to give Lufkin a one-point lead with 10:43 remaining, capping a four-play, 67-yard drive.

Lewis led Lufkin with 124 yards rushing on 12 carries as the Pack ground attack improved on last week's showing against Lee.

The yardage that mattered most to JT was that of the lost variety.

On the series following the go-ahead score by Lewis, JT's Ky'Ordric Black gained 21 yards on a run to reach the Lufkin 20, only to see a holding call negate the pickup.

Later, on the key 24-yard loss that spoiled JT's own comeback hopes, Johnson scooped up the ball and threw it away, though the play drew an intentional grounding call.

Nevertheless, Johnson epitomized a better-looking JT squad than the one that fell to Texas High by 28 points in the opener. Johnson rushed for a team-high 90 yards and two TDs on 14 carries. He completed 11 of 19 passes for 71 yards, with the one pick coming on his last throw with the game on the line.

The JT defense limited Lufkin's big plays for the most part and notched three sacks on the night - all in the first half.

LaKendrick Wilkerson led JT from his cornerback spot and helped JT regain the lead with a 39-yard interception return to the Lufkin 7 on opening drive of the second half.

Two plays after Wilkerson's pick, Johnson scored from six yards out on a keeper to give JT a 12-7 advantage.

The first half ended with Lufkin ahead one point as well, despite JT striking first on Johnson's 42-yard keeper.

Looking to convert on 3rd-and-14, JT's junior signal-caller decided to make a dash for it after scanning the field. He headed straight down the middle before zipping back outside to the right and outrunning the Lufkin defense to the end zone.

On the PAT, however, a Lufkin player blocked the kick by Jesse Diaz, leaving JT's lead at six.

Lufkin grabbed the lead before the half, thanks to a questionable pass interference call in the home team's favor after JT seemingly stopped the Panthers on 3rd-and-10. The penalty positioned Lufkin at the JT 27, and two plays later Claybon called his own number for a 12-yard equalizing score.

Colby Kenning kicked the PAT to give Lufkin a one-point edge, which stood through intermission and wound up being the difference-maker.

Lufkin 13, John Tyler 12

At Abe Martin Stadium

John Tyler606012

Lufkin070613

First Quarter

JT-Jeremy Johnson 42 run (kick blocked), 4:36 Second Quarter LUF-Jeffrey Claybon 12 run (Colby Kenning), 5:53 Third Quarter JT-Johnson 6 run (run failed), 10:50 Fourth Quarter LUF-Tre'Von Lewis 37 run (run failed), 10:43 EST.ATT.-8800.

JTLUF

First Downs1216

Rushes-Yards 27-9632-142

Passing Yards71133

Com.-Att.-Int.11-19-111-23-1

Punts-Avg.7-33.15-40.6

Fumbles-Lost2-02-0

Penalties-Yards7-477-70

RUSHING-John Tyler, Jeremy Johnson 14-90, De'Trich Morgan 1-15, Kedrick Chancellor 2-10, Dominic Ward 2-7, Ky'Ordric Black 7-(-2), Team 1-(-24). Lufkin, Tre'Von Lewis 12-124, Tra Horace 1-9, Jeffrey Claybon 17-7, Michael Ingram 1-4, Team 1-(-2).

PASSING-John Tyler, Johnson 11-19-1-71. Lufkin, Claybon 11-23-1-133.

RECEIVING-John Tyler, Black 4-30, Tarrington Joiner 2-21, Demetree Curtis 2-16, Morgan 2-(-3), Ward 1-7. Lufkin, Kasey Jones 3-29, Horace 2-48, Quinn Trimble 2-47, Lewis 2-(-5), Ingram 1-12, Da'adrick Lee 1-2.