Friday night lights returned to Tim Knight Field with 3A division Lowry High School Buckaroos taking on the 2A division Battle Mountain Longhorns.
The Longhorns defended their home turf and sent Lowry High back down Interstate 80 with a 34-14 loss.
“Week one is always a crap shoot. When you go out there you don’t know what is going to happen," said BMHS coach Mitch Domagala. "We put in a whole new defense this year, and it took us a little while to figure it out.”
The game kicked off with the Longhorns forcing a punt on Lowry’s first possession.
The Longhorns then took advantage the first time they had the ball with a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Gabe Naveran to wide receiver Bobby Kester.
That brought the score to 7-0 after the extra point went through the goal posts.
The Buckaroos did not waste any time tying the game, as they drove down the field and scored on a 20-yard run by running back Victor Rosas, tying the game at 7-7.
After both teams punted, the Longhorns took possession of the football with a five-play drive that ended with a 67-yard touchdown pass from Naveran to Kester for the second time in the game.
Longhorn kicker Nestor Miramontes was unable to make the extra point, and the Longhorns took the lead at 13-7.
After the Longhorn score, the defenses took over the rest of the first half.
Lowry was unable to take advantage of red zone opportunities three times before the end of the half. Including a Longhorn interception at the five-yard line by Jace Clark. Longhorns were able to take the 13-7 lead into the second half.
During the third quarter, the Longhorns blew the game wide open with two more scores.
The first came on the opening drive of the second half with a 2-yard touchdown run by Reese Artz. Artz also caught the 2-point conversion bringing the score to 21-7 Longhorns.
The following drive, Lowry quarterback, Ren Mattson threw a pass that was intercepted by Longhorn defender Deagan McClary.
He returned the interception 39 yards and was tackled on the Lowry 1-yard line.
“We were really hoping to score on that interception,” Domagala said. “I thought he did at first, but we scored right after that. We made some adjustments at halftime and the kids found their niche and stepped on the gas.”
The Longhorns scored on the following play with a quarterback sneak by Naveran bringing the Longhorn lead to 27-7 heading into the fourth quarter.
Lowry continued to move the ball, but could not sustain long drives.
The Buckaroos turned the ball over on downs twice. The Longhorns scored one more time as the fourth quarter started with another Reese Artz touchdown run on the goal line, bringing the score to 34-7. Artz did sustain a shoulder injury,
“He (Artz) will be fine maybe out a week or so," added the coach.
Lowry scored on their first possession of the fourth quarter with a much-needed 67-yard touchdown pass from Mattson to freshman wide receiver Anthony Peterson making the score 34-14.
“I thought Anthony did some good things tonight,” said LHS coach Taua Cabatbat. "We are going to get AP some more touches and involved in our offense.”
With eight minutes left in the game, the Longhorns defense cruised, securing the first win of the season.
My hat's off to Battle Mountain — they brought it," Cabatbat said. " They were the better team tonight and now we prepare for Spring Creek.”
Battle Mountain will be back at Tim Knight Field on Friday against Southern 3A opponent The Meadows.
The Lincoln County Lynx visit Battle Mountain on Sept. 8.
The Longhorns are hoping to finish with a clean record against a couple of possible playoff opponents.
“Even the things that went bad for us, will be good things to build on,” Domagala said. “We came into tonight raving about our offensive line and they had problems. They started to figure it out late in the game and gave us good feedback.”
Winnemucca Publishing Sports Editor Tony Erquiaga contributed to this story,
