Lions collect 5th trophy, advance to semifinal
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions have picked a good time to be playing their best football of the season.
In doing so, the Lions gained a measure of revenge by ending the reign of defending state champion Windthorst with a 28-14 victory last Friday in a Class 2A Division II state quarterfinal at Newton Field in Graham.
Albany (13-0) advances to the state semifinals for the 13th time in school history to face Stratford. The game is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Thursday (tonight) at Lowrey Field in Lubbock.
“It’s awesome,” senior offensive lineman Ty Everitt said. “This is what we sweat for in two-a-days, and now we’re making it happen. We’re just stacking one on top of another.”
In winning the Region II title, fourth-ranked Albany has knocked off No. 2 Muenster and No. 3 Windthorst.
Against Windthorst, the Lions converted two turnovers into touchdowns and made a pair of critical fourth-down stops inside their own 25-yard line to keep Windthorst from getting momentum. Quarterback Cole Chapman passed for three touchdowns, two to Coy Lefevre, and ran for another as the Trojans focused their defensive efforts on running back Jaheim Newton.
“I think it was a defensive battle, really,” Lions head coach Denney Faith said. “I think their game plan was to keep Jaheim from running the ball like he had been, and they did a good job of that, so we had to do some different things, throw the ball a little more. We were able to hit some big plays and were close on some others.
Windthorst (12-2) actually outgained Albany 239 total yards to 209. Part of that was due to the fact that the Lions started three scoring drives in Trojan territory. Albany also conceded 27 yards on its last three plays in running out the clock, with Chapman backing up 20 on the final play, eating up enough time to ensure the Lions wouldn’t have to take another snap.
Chapman completed 11 of 22 passes for 123 yards and rushed nine times for 63 yards. Lefevre had six receptions for 70 yards, while Newton finished with a season-low 46 yards rushing on 10 carries.
“We had to run hard routes,” said Lefevre, who lined up as a slot receiver much of the night. “It helps when you’ve got a quarterback who can sling it like ours can.”
Faith said the Lions’ ability to take what the defense gave them was a key factor.
“They were really crowding the line of scrimmage, trying to keep us from running the ball,” he said. “Early on, we were able to hit a couple of big pass routes for touchdowns.”
Taren Farmer and Brooks Neece each had 7.5 tackles to lead the Lions, with Adam Hill and Cooper Fairchild each recording five and Lefevre 4.5. Hill and Lefevre each intercepted a pass.
“We had to stop the run game and stop No. 5 (Windthorst wide receiver Brayden Berend),” Lefevre said.
Clay Hoff rushed for 107 yards and a score for Windthorst. The Trojans quarterback was 9 of 20 passing for 76 yards and rushed for 63 yards. Berend was held to two catches for 25 yards.
After failing to move on the games opening possession, Albany scored on its next three with an assist from the defense. On Windthorst’s first offensive play, Albany defensive lineman Zane Waggoner tipped Cope’s pass and Hill intercepted it. Three plays later, Chapman hit Hill for a 21-yard score.
Chapman’s 34-yard touchdown run gave Albany a 14-0 lead before Windthorst put together its first scoring drive for Hoff’s touchdown. The Lions responded with their longest drive, a 12-play, 60-yard march that ended on Lefevre’s first TD catch early in the second quarter.
Windthorst’s attempt to answer ended on another big play by the Albany defense. Facing fourth-and-13 from the Lions 35, Cope hit Kolby Teakell for a 12-yard gain with safety Robert Bailey making the tackle inches short of the first down.
“We were hitting pretty hard, getting to the ball,” Bailey said. “They had good size on us, but we’re not going to let that stop us from here on out.”
The Lions also held on downs at their own 26 on the first possession of the third quarter when Cope’s pass was incomplete.
“Our defense played really well,” Faith said. “Those were big plays on those fourth downs.”
The defense came through again on the next series with Lefevre’s interception leading to his second TD reception. At that point, it became a matter of eating the clock for Albany.
“It’s just a matter of playing smash-mouth football, doing our jobs, and making sure we got our blocks,” Everitt said. “We just tried to make sure we got everything done.”
While Windthorst scored early in the fourth quarter, Waggoner helped keep the Trojans from getting any closer. The sophomore, who returned after suffering a separated shoulder in the third quarter, pinned Windthorst at its 8-yard line with a 68-yard punt. He finished averaging 41.6 yards per punt with three inside the 20.
“Those punts in the fourth quarter were big, being able to flip the field like that,” Faith said. “If they were going to score, they were going to have to go a long way to do it. Field position in those kinds of games is always important.”
Semifinal Playoff
The Lions last reached the semifinals in 2018, when this year’s seniors were freshmen.
“We were talking as a staff the other day about how these guys have dedicated themselves to this season,” Faith said. “Now they have a chance, one more game before they get to go play for a championship. We’re going to prepare this week just like we have been all season long. I don’t expect anything but the very best from our guys.”
Albany and Stratford met in the semifinals in 2008 and 2009 with each winning once. The Lions also beat the Elks in a 2010 area playoff.
Albany is 7-5 in its previous semifinal games. Stratford has been to the semis 10 times, all since 1999, going 4-6.
Faith said the Elks will be similar in approach to Windthorst.
“They’ve got a good quarterback who can run,” he said. “They’re going to line up with two tight ends and two backs and try to pound the ball, then throw when they need to. If you don’t ever stop the run, you’re never going to make them throw. We’re going to have to do a good job at the line of scrimmage.”
Tonight’s winner advances to the state championship game, scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium, to play the winner of Friday’s semifinal between Mart and Falls City.
Ticket Info
All tickets are $6 and may be purchased online or at the gate. District and senior citizen passes will be accepted.
To purchase tickets online, go to lubbocksports.rankonesport.com and click on the tickets link on the right.
Albany will be the home team with fan seating on the west (pressbox) side of the stadium.
