Lobos Pull Away from Chiefs with Strong Second Half Performance

The Lobos quickly established their dominance, firing their offense on all cylinders right from the start. Four minutes into the game, Lobos junior quarterback Boston Winfield executed a powerful drive that culminated into a touchdown, putting the Lobos ahead 7-0. The Levelland defense then intensified the pressure, forcing a series of turnovers on downs and ultimately leading to a safety. With the Chiefs struggling to find their footing, they found themselves in a challenging position, trailing 9-0 early in the game.

Just before the end of the quarter, the Lobos had one more play up their sleeves. After Lake View punted the ball from their goal line, Levelland’s Kaden Brogden seized the opportunity, returning it for a touchdown and pushing the Lobos' lead to 16-0.

Lake View was determined to make a comeback, and they orchestrated a solid drive that put quarterback Christopher Alvizo in a prime position to score. He delivered a perfect lob to junior receiver Braylon White, finally getting the Chiefs on the board. A failed extra point kept the score at 16-6.

The Chiefs were determined to build on their momentum after their initial score. Alvizo orchestrated a series of first downs, moving the team to the 40-yard line. A quick toss to receiver Gage Potter allowed him to break through several tackles and take the ball 60 yards for a touchdown. This sparked the Chiefs' comeback from a 16-point deficit with 10 minutes to go. As the clock wound down during a defensive exchange, the score settled at 16-12 as both teams headed into halftime.

Eagerly anticipating whether the Chiefs would emerge from the locker room ready to turn the dial, a string of penalties hindered their efforts, stalling the clock and allowing Levelland to capitalize. Benefiting from the Chiefs’ mistakes, the Lobos managed to sneak in another touchdown in the first two minutes of the half, extending their lead to 23-12. The rest of the quarter saw both teams struggle to find the end zone, leaving the score unchanged.

The fourth quarter began with the Lobos again threatening in the red zone. Quarterback Ethan Salazar directed the offense, connecting with senior receiver Eryk Jones to put the Lobos back on the scoreboard. A few minutes later, Salazar handed the ball off to freshman running back Noah Martin, who added another touchdown to the Lobos’ tally. With their relentless performance, Levelland continued to dominate the Chiefs, extending the score to 37-12.

The Chiefs' sideline simmered with frustration as they searched for anything. With time running out and nothing to lose, Lake View decided to take a risk on fourth down. Their gamble paid off when quarterback Christopher Alvizo connected with Braylon White for his second touchdown of the night. A successful two-point conversion put the Chiefs back on the scoreboard. 

A perfectly executed onside kick allowed the Chiefs to regain possession, but the clock was ticking. A series of rushing attempts moved them into scoring position again, and Alvizo connected with junior receiver Cristian Esparza for another touchdown, leaving the score at 37-26. With just 1:15 left in the game, the Chiefs knew they would need a stroke of luck to get the ball back.

Unfortunately, the Chiefs' second onside kick attempt fell into the hands of the Lobos. With time running out, Levelland made one last push, positioning senior running back Ricky Rodriguez for a score. He powered into the end zone, sealing the game with a final score of 44-26.

The Levelland Lobos secured a commanding win, improving their record to 3-2 as they prepare for district play. With one final game against the Snyder Tigers, they look to solidify their team’s strength before entering the district. On the other hand, the Lake View Chiefs faced another frustrating loss, dropping their record to 1-4, with three defeats occurring on the road. The Chiefs have two more games to regroup and address their challenges before district play, hoping to shake off the frustrations and find their rhythm.

Head coach of the Levelland Lobos, Lyle Leong, highlighted the team winning on all three phases, penalty issues, and how the Lobos bounced back in the second half after allowing 12 points before halftime. Watch that interview here:

The Levelland Lobos stay at home next week as they take on the Snyder Tigers at Lobo Stadium on Friday, October 4. Kickoff is slated at 7:00 p.m.