JV to host extra match-up today
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions junior varsity football team dodged an early bullet Thursday, Sept. 21 and recovered to defeat Comanche 24-6 at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.
The JV Lions (3-1) will host Cisco at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, while the rest of the program takes an open date. The game was added after Albany could not find a JV opponent for the opening week of the season.
Against Comanche, Shawn Keen rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown, while Aaden Mendez, who had scores rushing and passing, threw for 97 yards.
“This was a tough, physical matchup,” coach David Fairchild said. “It was a hard-fought game.”
Keen carried 13 times as Albany rushed for 199 of its 296 total yards. Hollis Yeates added 45 yards on seven carries and Breylon Billington finished with 29 yards on seven carries.
Mendez was 9 of 14 passing with Mason McCloy catching seven passes for 87 yards and a TD.
“Mendez played well, threw some nice passes,” Fairchild said. “McCloy had a great night offensively. Keen ran the ball hard, as did Yeates.”
The Lions held Comanche to 152 total yards, 66 of which came on the Indians’ touchdown in the fourth quarter. Sam Vickers and Keen had interceptions.
“McCloy had several big tackles, as did our linebackers – Keen and Yeates,” Fairchild said. Brody Oliver, Ryan Turner, Jaxson Street, and Zane Green made some nice plays. Jack Nail was in on a lot of plays and Casey Estridge played well defensively.”
The defense held firm after an errant punt snap on the first series of the game gave Comanche possession at the Albany 6-yard line. On fourth down from the 2, Keen dropped the Indian ballcarrier for a 4-yard loss.
The offense started clicking on Albany’s third drive, picking up two first downs before Keen got free for a 60-yard touchdown run. Mendez passed to Yeates for the conversion to give the Lions an 8-0 lead with 8:52 to go in the second quarter.
Albany missed a chance to add to the lead before halftime, driving to the Comanche 16 before time expired.
The Lions reached the end zone on their first possession of the third quarter. Mendez connected with McCloy from 21 yards out with 59 seconds left in the period to cap a nine-play, 62-yard drive. Wesley Gleitz pulled in the conversion pass for a 16-0 lead.
Comanche’s touchdown came with 9:01 remaining in the game, but Albany responded quickly. Mendez scored on an 11-yard keeper with 6:21 to go and passed to Street for the conversion.
After Keen’s interception, Albany ran out the final 4:08 with Yeates gaining 38 yards.
