With the new football realignment in the Northern 3A, it figured to be a crazy season with the top teams in the league. This past Friday in Winnemucca was no different, as Lowry High School and Spring Creek put on an offensive display for the fans.
Both offenses moved the ball up and down the field, with the Spartans coming back from a 34-21 deficit to beat Lowry 42-34. The Buckaroos dropped to 1-1 in the Northern 3A and 2-2 overall.
After a penalty derailed Spring Creek’s initial drive, Lowry took over in Spartan territory on its opening drive. It didn’t take long for the Buckaroos to find pay dirt as Erick Valencia scrambled for a 9-yard touchdown run and a 7-0 lead, just moments after running for 11 yards on a third down play.
Spring Creek thought it had tied the game but had a long touchdown run called back on a penalty. However, two plays later Austin Reasbeck connected on a 31-yard touchdown pass to make the score 7-6 after the missed extra point with 4:12 left in the first quarter.
Lowry was back in Spring Creek territory on its next drive, only to see it end on a fumble at the 23-yard line. It didn’t take long for the Spartans to answer and take their first lead, when Keegan Vandeneykel broke free for a 77-yard touchdown run on the third play of the drive and the second of the second quarter to give Spring Creek a 14-7 lead after the 2-point conversion.
The back-and-forth offensive show continued, as Lowry came back with an 80-yard drive and Jesse Jeronimo scored from one yard out to tie the game at 14-14 with 6:45 left in the first half.
Late in the second quarter, the Lowry defense held it one, creating one of the few punts on the night. The Buckaroos went back in front on the next drive moving down the field on a 71-yard drive. Donovan Walker capped off the drive with a 7-yard run to make the score 21-14.
The lead was short-lived, as on the ensuing kickoff, Spring Creek’s Vandeneykel came back with an 85-yard kickoff return to tie the game at 21-21.
The fireworks did not stop, as Lowry scored with 30 seconds left in the first half for three combined touchdowns in 76 seconds. The big play of the drive a 70-yard pass from Valencia to Anthony Guzman. On the next play, Jeronimo scored from 10 yards out to give Lowry a 27-21 lead at halftime after the missed extra point.
Lowry increased its lead to 34-21 in the third quarter, as Valencia found Luke Fentress for a 7-yard touchdown pass. However, those were the final point of the contest for Lowry.
Spring Creek pounded the ball down the field with its rushing offense on its next drive and cut the Lowry lead to 34-28 after an 8-yard Reasbeck keeper for a touchdown with seven minutes left in the third quarter.
The Spartans followed with another touchdown to go in front 35-34 late in the third quarter on a 5-yard run by Taiten Mogensen.
Lowry was driving for the go ahead score midway through the fourth quarter, when Valencia was hurt as scrambled on a play near the Buckaroo sideline. Lowry attempted a field goal stalled but missed.
Spring Creek took the ensuing drive to increase the lead to 42-34, as Reasbeck threw a 55-yard pass to Christian Dorame with 3:20 to play.
With Jeronimo at quarterback, the Buckaroos drove down the field deep into Spartan territory but the drive ended with an interception.
Lowry hits the road this Friday to play Elko at 7 p.m.