After dropping its second league of the season during Homecoming week to Fernley, the Lowry High School football team put itself in a position where it would need to win its final two games of the year to get into the postseason.
As Fernley spoiled Lowry’s Homecoming, the Buckaroos did the same to Spring Creek this past Friday, 38-19 to improve to 6-2 overall and 2-2 in the Northern 3A East.
The night didn’t start out on a high note for Lowry, turning the ball over on its initial possession of the night.
That miscue turned into a 7-0 lead with 9:27 left in the first quarter, as Weston Petersen took off for a 45-yard touchdown run on the Spartans’ first play of the night.
Lowry moved the ball back down the field on its next possession and saw the drive continue as Spring Creek was called for an offside penalty on fourth-and-two.
On fourth-and-11, the Buckaroos kept their offense on the field and tied the game at 7-7, after an 11-yard pass from Jordan Bills to Braden Hammargren with 2:56 left in the first quarter.
The Buckaroos caught a break late in the first quarter, as Spring Creek snapped the ball way over the punter’s head, handing Lowry excellent field position. On the second play of the second quarter, Bills found the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown run and a 15-7 lead after the 2-point conversion.
It went from bad to worse for Spring Creek, who fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Lowry took advantage quickly. On the next play, Giovani Sapien ran for 27 yards and on third and goal,
Bills ran in his second touchdown of the night, this time from four yards out. With the missed extra point, the Buckaroos led 21-7 with 8:43 remaining in the first half.
Spring Creek closed the gap to 21-13 at halftime, scoring with 27 seconds left in the half on a 14-yard pass from Petersen to Josh Billat for a 14-yard touchdown reception.
Spring Creek attempted use a bit of trickery to start the second half, but Lowry’s Jeremiah Grasmick was in position to intercept the second pass.
Moments later, the Buckaroos extended the advantage to 28-13 on a touchdown pass from Bills to Lance Brenigar. Brenigar escaped a couple Spring Creek tackles on his way to the end zone.
Late in the third quarter, Spring Creek’s Kayden Boyle scored on a 15-yard run to close the gap to 28-19 after the missed extra point.
With nine minutes left play, Bills was back in the end zone for the Buckaroos, increasing the lead to 35-19.
Hammargren added a 32-yard field goal with 1;33 to play, as Lowry completed the victory.
Lowry closes out the regular season in Fallon on Friday night for a 7 p.m. kickoff against Churchill County.
Elko leads the Northern 3A East at 3-0, Churchill County is second at 2-1, followed by Fernley (1-1) and Lowry (2-2).
The top three teams advance to the regional playoffs, with the top seed receiving a first-round bye.
North Valleys, Truckee and Sparks have clinched the Northern 3A West playoff spots.
