KENEDY – Coming into this matchup undefeated, both the Kenedy Lions and the Woodsboro Eagles looked to walk out with a 4-0 record on the Lions’ Homecoming game. Unfortunately for the Lions, the Eagles proved to be potent party crashers late in the game as they managed to score late to hand the Lions a 27-21 loss. “They’re a very explosive team,” said Kenedy head coach Lin Havron. “The quarterback did a great job executing on us. We did a good job in the second half. It was anybody’s game until the fourth quarter.”

The first half remained a close contest. With 6:38 to go in the first quarter, the Lions drew first blood as Rolie Zepeda scored on a 3-yard run, followed by Weston Hallmark’s extra point. The Eagles countered with 4:35 to go via a 62-yard passing touchdown, with the kick knotting things up at 7-7. The Lions roared back on their next possession at the 3:00 mark as Zepeda connected with Dominic Cruz, who weaved around the Woodsboro defense, for a 68-yard passing score. The failed kick left the score at 13-7 after a quarter of play. Just 50 seconds into the second quarter, the Eagles countered with a 2-yard pass for the score. The failed two-point conversion left the score at 13-13. The Lions last score of the half came with 4:10 on the clock as Zepeda hooked up with Cedric Mejia for the 29-yard passing touchdown. Zepeda threw to Cruz for the two-point conversion to put the lead at 21-13. On Woodsboro’s next possession, however, the Eagles scored on a 56-yard run and ran in the two-point conversion to tie it back up at 21-21 at halftime. The only score of the second half came with just 26 seconds to go in the game as the Eagles scored on a 7-yard run to give Woodsboro the decisive 27-21 lead as time expired. Statistically, the Lions gained 275 yards of total offense with 91 yards rushing and 184 yards passing.

This week, the Lions will have their Bye week, which Havron said will be helpful. “We got a lot of people banged up and bruised that need to get healthy,” said Havron. “We want to get everyone participating. We’ll work on fundamentals and staying healthy.” Their next game will be on the road against the San Antonio Hawkins Wolfpack. The contest will take place at the new Wheatley Heights Sports Complex, located near Martin Luther King Park and south of E. Houston St. on Upland Rd. in San Antonio. Kickoff in San Antonio is set for Friday, October 5 at 7:30 p.m.