Lions take week off after 57-0 win
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions kept building momentum last Friday with another efficient performance to move to the brink of playoff qualification.
The Lions scored on eight of nine possessions – kneeling out the clock to end the game on the last – in a 57-0 victory against the Hico Tigers in District 8-2A Division II action at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.
The Lions (7-0 overall, 2-0 district) assumed sole possession of first place in the district standings, setting up a showdown against Santo on Oct. 29.
“I thought our kids played hard on both sides of the ball, and we were good on our special teams,” Lion head coach Denney Faith said. “In all three phases, we really played well.”
Albany could clinch a playoff berth this week during its open date if Santo and Cross Plains both win, which would leave three teams with two district losses. Santo (7-0, 1-0) visits Hico (4-4, 1-1), while Cross Plains (4-3, 0-2) hosts Meridian (1-6, 0-1) this Friday.
Coy Lefevre and Brooks Neece both ran for two touchdowns against Hico, while Cole Chapman had TDs rushing and passing.
Adam Hill caught a TD pass, and Robert Bailey and Samuel Rosas added touchdown runs in the fourth quarter.
Albany piled up 518 total yards, averaging 11.5 yards per snap. Lefevre led a potent ground attack with 142 yards on just seven carries. Chapman added 94 yards with Rosas getting 87 and Bailey 82.
“Offensively, we showed some balance running and passing,” Faith said. “Cole had a good game running the ball this week, which will make us more of a threat. The offensive line blocked well.”
In two games since returning from injury. Lefevre has 236 yards and four touchdowns on 11 carries.
“It’s been pretty simple fitting into the scheme,” Lefevre sai. “It’s like a brotherhood, no bumps at all.”
Lefevre said he’s thrilled to be back on the field.
“It feels awesome,” he said. “There’s no better feeling in the world.”
Lefevre’s return has helped make up for the absence of leading rusher Jaheim Newton, who was held out for the second straight week with an ankle injury.
“Jaheim’s getting better every day,” Faith said. “We’ve got two full weeks for him to continue to heal. We’re thinking by that time, he should be ready to go.”
Chapman finished 5 of 8 passing for 80 yards. Cooper Fairchild had two receptions for 44 yards, and London Fuentes had two for 27 yards.
The Lion defense held Hico to 61 total yards and six first downs in recording Albany’s third shutout of the season.
“We were flying around making plays,” Faith said. “Hico does a really good job of using different formations to outflank you or get you unbalanced. Our defense did a good job adjusting to the different formations.”
The unit has allowed just one touchdown since the season opener against Dublin.
“Coach (Jimmy) Fuentes keeps us sharp,” defensive end Taren Farmer said. “He keeps us in good shape.”
Farmer recorded a team-high nine tackles with 2.5 for loss and a forced fumble. Koy Cauble added five tackles with two sacks, while Jayden Lucas recovered a fumble.
Farmer said the Lions were ready for the multiple formations Hico employed.
“We practiced all week against it,” he said. We knew what to do when they got into new positions, and we were able to read what they were doing.”
Albany led 21-0 in the second quarter before Hico made its deepest penetration to the Lions’ 35-yard line. The next two plays resulted in 10 yards of losses and Lucas’ fumble recovery.
The Lions recorded 12 negative-yardage plays, accounting for a loss of 46 yards. Hico averaged just 1.7 yards per play.
Open Date
Albany has its open date this week, a situation that occurred when Ranger dropped out of the district to play six-man.
Faith said the schedule changes affect how the Lions will make use of their free time.
“We’ll go ahead and start working on Santo because it’s our next game, but we’re definitely going to take some time off,” he said. “The open week is really late in the season this year, and we’ve got guys with sore bodies. We’ll approach it a little differently than we would have if it had been earlier in the year.”
Faith said having the week off before playing Santo on Oct. 29, a game that will likely determine the district championship, benefits Albany.
“This week will give kids who have had some problems a chance to get healthy again and hopefully go into this game at full strength,” he said. “It’s going to be a big challenge for us to play a really good Santo team. We’re going to need all hands on deck.”
While there is no game to coach Friday, Faith said the coaching staff won’t be taking a night off.
“We’ll probably go watch Santo and see what they look like,” he said. “We may split up and send a group off to what we think might be one of our playoff opponents. We’ll definitely be on the road somewhere watching somebody.”
