LUBBOCK, TX – It was a high-octane offensive duel for the 2024 High School Football season on Friday night, August 30th, between the Lubbock Coronado Mustangs and the Wichita Falls Legacy Leopards.
Both schools had new beginnings in their 5A Division. Wichita Falls Legacy High School eagerly plays its first game as a high school against Coronado High School's newly recruited head coach, Andrew Roy, at Lowry Field on Friday night.
Watch the full game highlights below:
Neither team could push the ball past the 40-yard line in the first half of the first quarter. Faced with another 3rd and two, the Mustangs finally crossed midfield after a facemask call. The Mustangs brought some horsepower as Aiden Gutierrez plowed through the red zone defense and RB Demarion Finch punched the ball into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown. Coronado took the 7-0 lead with 7:45 in the first quarter.
Hoping for a response, the Leopards could not match the Mustangs on the other side of the field. A punt set the Mustangs up at the 42-yard line. A quick throw to the out-route then had the football at the 49-yard line. With the ball in the hands of Coronado’s quarterback Isaiah Vazquez, a completed deep pass right secured a 51-yard touchdown to receiver Campbell Stanek. The Mustangs lead 14-0.
Still, in the first quarter, the Leopards needed to wake up – and they did. An impressive drive from Legacy quarterback Jimmell McFalls sent the sideline growling as Ken’Dron Worthy scored from five yards out. A quick response after a two-score deficit was admirable, but the Leopards were not finished yet.
A drive-killing sack caused a turnover on downs for the Mustangs, exactly what Legacy needed to bounce back. After plowing down the field with RB Jordan Mitchell, the Leopard's Ken’Dron Worthy secured another touchdown—unfortunately, Wichita Falls missed the extra point. The Mustangs led 14-13 with 1:02 left in the first quarter.
After an entertaining twelve minutes, the two offenses did not slow down. With eight and a half minutes left on the clock, the Leopards added another touchdown. Legacy’s McFalls rushed into the end zone for a 5-yard carry himself. The Legacy Leopards lead 20-14.
Coronado immediately answered when they drove the football to Legacy's 7-yard line. Finch capped off the possession with a 78-yard touchdown run. The Mustangs led at half 21-20.
Four minutes into the third quarter, the running game did not stop. Legacy's Worthy broke free for a monstrous 33-yard rush into the endzone to reclaim the lead 27-21.
With about four and a half minutes left in the third quarter, Coronado decided to take a risk and go for it on 4th and 10. Legacy's Elgin Colbert swatted the 4th down pass out of the air to force a turnover on downs.
Cornado's defense recovered and forced a stop. On offense, the Mustangs then drove the ball into Leopard territory. Finch scored another touchdown for this third of the night. The point after the touchdown was missed and the ball game was tied again 27-27 with 1:51 left in the third quarter.
Neither team relented on the following possessions, and the game remained tied 34-34 headed to the 4th quarter. The winner was decided with two minutes left to play when Vazquez tossed the game-winning touchdown pass to Stanek for a 25-yard touchdown. Coronado took the lead and kept it until the end, 41-34
After the game, first-year head coach for the Coronado Mustangs Andrew Roy gave his thoughts on his “Roy’s Boys” and their performance. Watch that interview below:
The Coronado Mustangs (1-0) stay in town next week but play an away game against cross-town rival Lubbock-Cooper (1-0) at Pirate Stadium next Friday, September 6. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Pirates defeated Lovejoy on opening night 46-43.
This next game should be an exciting matchup. Coronado can not afford any mistakes against the talented Pirates squad, who just beat a team from the metroplex. Regardless of who wins next week, it is sure to be entertaining.
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