Lowry's Anthony Guzman stiff arms a Hug defender in the Buckaroos' 21-20 win over the Hawks on Friday night in Reno.
It almost had been a calendar year since the Lowry High School football team tasted victory on the field.
The Buckaroos trailed 20-14 midway through the fourth quarter at Hug this past Friday, but turned in a game-winning drive when they needed it the most.
After a defensive stand inside its own 25-yard line, Lowry drove 75 yards and took up nearly all of the 6 minutes, and 30 seconds remaining to pull out a 21-20 win in Reno.
The victory snapped a five-game losing streak dating back to last year. Lowry’s last win was 47-20 over Sparks on Sept. 16, 2022.
Lowry (1-1) methodically moved the ball at the end of the fourth quarter, aided by a personal foul on Hug. With 1:39 left on the clock, sophomore quarterback Erick Valencia connected with Anthony Guzman, who brought the ball in by his shoelaces for a 17-yard touchdown to tie the game.
Guzman added the extra point to give the Buckaroos the one-point lead. The Lowry defense held one last time, forcing Hug to turn the ball over on downs and the Buckaroos ran out the final minute of the game.
Lowry moved the ball in to Hug territory on its first two possessions but saw them end on downs ana turnover. Miscues plagued the Buckaroos once again with two fumbles and two interceptions.
After the fumble in the first quarter, Hug took advantage and finished off a 63-yard drive with a 26-yard touchdown pass to lead 6-0 after the missed extra point.
Lowry answered back early in the second quarter, as Valencia connected with sophomore Ryder Huitt and a 77-yard touchdown to put the Buckaroos up 7-6 after the made extra point.
Hug went 3-and-out on its next possession, which Lowry turned in a 14-6 lead after Valencia capped off a 65-yard drive with a 7-yard run and a 14-6 lead.
The Buckaroos threw two interceptions to end the first half, with the Hawks taking advantage of the first turnover.
Hug converted a fourth-down near midfield and a couple plays later cut the deficit to 14-12 after a touchdown pass. That would be the score at halftime.
After forcing Hug to punt on its first possession of the third quarter, Lowry appeared to increase its lead but had a touchdown called back on a penalty. The Buckaroo drive eventually stalled at the Hawks’ 20-yard line.
Hug proceeded to take much the remaining time off in the third quarter, driving 80 yards to go back in front 20-14 after a third touchdown pass and 2-point conversion.
Lowry is off this weekend and begins play in the new-look Northern 3A on Thursday, Sept. 7, at 6 p.m. against Sparks in Winnemucca.
The Northern 3A features just eight team this year, including Lowry, Spring Creek, Elko, Churchill County, Fernley, Sparks, South Tahoe and defending state champion Truckee.