WINNEMUCCA - If you're a fan of shootouts that's what you got Friday night as the Lowry High School junior varsity football team made its home debut.
The Buckaroos' high-powered offense continued its winning ways in the 56-26 win over Wooster, which included five touchdowns by Cody Mecham. The sophomore ran for three touchdowns and caught two more from Christian Gray.
Lowry held its opponents scoreless in the first eight games a season ago, but that streak lasted just two games this year as the Colts threw nearly 30 passes, accounting for a majority of its yards and points. Lowry has outscored its three opponents 154-26 this season.
"We did a good job tonight but we have to put a team away when we have the chance," said LHS head coach John Brooks. "Our offense did some good things tonight running and passing the ball. Cody did a good job of running the ball for us. On defense we were subbing pretty routinely and they were throwing the ball every chance they had."
Lowry (3-0 overall, 2-0 Division I-A North) scored on its four possessions of the game, and nearly made it five-for-five, only to see its final drive of the first half end with an interception in the end zone.
The Buckaroos caught an early break, as a wide open Colts receiver Chris Greco dropped a pass on fourth down in the first quarter, which would have been a sure touchdown for Wooster. Lowry made Wooster pay for the miscue, and after a 22-yard pass from Gray to Colin Doyle, Kelvin Meza scored from three yards out on a run.
That started a streak of three more touchdowns on three possessions. After a Wooster fumble on fourth down on its next drive, it took Lowry just two plays to add to the advantage. Gray connected with Kyle Tarr on a 55-yard touchdown pass for a 14-0 lead.
"I can't say enough good things about Christian," Brooks said. "He gets us in the offense and does a good job. He had one mistake tonight and that was the interception."
Wooster's only points of the first half came on the ensuing kickoff, with Greco scoring on a 75-yard kickoff return.
Lowry went to the air for its next two scores, both touchdown passes to Cody Mecham. The first came on a 12-yard pass and the second was from 70 yards out, after the Buckaroos' defense had just provided a goal-line stand and got the ball back on a Wooster fumble.
After another defensive stand by Lowry, Gray moved the Buckaroos down the field, but an interception with less than 30 seconds to play in the half ended the drive.
Lowry picked up right where it left off from the first half and was back on the scoreboard three minutes into the third quarter. The running of Thomas Schwartz and Mecham moved the ball, with Mecham scoring on a 7-yard run, his third of the night.
Wooster's first offensive touchdown of the night happened two plays later, with Hunter Triplett connecting with Greco on a 78-yard pass play. The two later found each other in the fourth quarter on a 10-yard reception.
The two teams combined for 35 points in the final 12 minutes, with Gray starting the scoring on a 9-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. Mecham added two more touchdown runs of 21 and 19 in a three-minute stretch to give the Buckaroos a 56-20 lead. The Colts put up a meaningless touchdown with 90 seconds to play for the final outcome.
"The biggest problem was that we should have put the nail in the coffin when we had the chance," Brooks said. "We gave them a reason for them to stay in the game. We had a couple of mistakes that hurt us. They were just a couple of plays from getting back in it. They were slinging the ball on every play."
In a scheduling change, Lowry travels to Fernley on Thursday for a 5 p.m. kickoff. South Tahoe recently dropped its JV program. Fernley is playing Sparks this Friday and the Railroaders don't have a JV team as well, allowing for the game to be played. The two schools will play in Winnemucca on Oct. 19.
"The nice thing is we are 3-0 and it is fun for the kids," Brooks said. "It is fine that we are on the short week and playing Fernley. We have to fix a couple of things before the game."
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