Lovelady Blows Out Normangee, 66-15

Lions Move to 2-1

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

 LOVELADY – The Lovelady Lions welcomed the Normangee Panthers to town on Friday night for a non-district matchup between two 1-1 teams.

The Lions were coming off of a 14-2 loss to Tenaha while Normangee was coming off a 26-13 win over Iola.

Lovelady took the week to regroup offensively, and when the game started, they unleashed a pure and simple beat down of Normangee as they scored early and often in the 66-15 win.

The Lions scored 14 points in the first quarter on a 22-yard run for a touchdown and a successful two point conversion. Their second score came on a 78 yard aerial strike to make the score 14-0 after the first 12 minutes of play.

Coach Jon Lowery’s Lions added another when on an 18 yard run, before the Panthers broke into the scoring column with a 74-yard bomb. After the PAT the score stood at 22-8, with a little momentum slowly creeping over to the Normangee side of the field.

The momentum swing was short-lived, however, as the Lions went on to score 24 unanswered points to close out the half with the score 46-7, in favor of Lovelady.

With a commanding lead, Lowery called off the dogs and gave several of his reserves some game-time experience. As a result the only score of the third quarter came on a four yard run. The try for two was unsuccessful, but at the end of three Lovelady, had pushed their lead to 52-7.

The fourth quarter saw the Lions add two more touchdowns to the point total. A one yard plunge as the final 12 minutes of play began, coupled with a two-point conversion expanded the lead to 60-7 and then a pick-six from the Lions made the score 66-7.

Normangee scored a late touchdown and managed to convert the two-point attempt to bring the final score to 66-15.

The win moves Lovelady’s record to 2-1. The Lions hit the road next week as they travel to Jewett to take on the Leon Cougars in a non-district tilt. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The following week, the Lions will open district play against the Burkeville Mustangs at home.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MIKE WHATLEY

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].