Hornets struggle with district-opening loss
By KRIS BAGLEY sports@leader-news.com

L-N Photo by Kris Bagley Get Back Here! Zack Lawson dives after Shiner quarterback Kyle Condel to slow down the speedster on a sweep in the first half of Louise's game against the Comanches Friday. Lawson made a great move to set up Rudy Ochoa (right) for the tackle in this play.

The Hornets had trouble with Shiner Friday falling to the Comanches 42- 7 at home.

Louise had a great start to Friday's game.

Only two plays into the first quarter, Antwon Parson broke free for a 57- yard touchdown run. Cory Hajovsky kicked the extra point and with 11:45 left in the first quarter, Louise had a 7-0 lead.

Celebrating Hornets fans had no idea of what was to come.

Shiner rallied to score six consecutive touchdowns and win the game 42-7.

Hornets Head Coach Rodney Dowell said a loss to open district may serve as a spark for his team to rally behind as they continue a pursuit of the post season.

"We're just going to try to regroup," Dowell said. "I think we were feeling pretty good about ourselves (before tonight). We may have even been feeling too good about ourselves. Like I told the kids, Shiner may have done us a favor in the fact that, we're 3-1 and we just beat Boling.

"We thought that was a pretty good accomplishment. We thought that would be enough. Tonight, Shiner showed us that it isn't enough. You've got to do more. Hopefully our kids will take that challenge, go back to work and do more and get better because of it."

After Parson's great run to give Louise the early lead, the Comanches responded with two first-quarter touchdowns to reclaim the lead 14-7.

One more Shiner touchdown in the second quarter made the score 21-7 at the half.

The Comanches scored three more touchdowns in the third quarter and extended their lead.

Louise's defense held Shiner scoreless in the fourth quarter to end the game with the Comanches ahead 42-7.

The Hornets loss to Shiner will undoubtedly provide Louise with good experience as district action continues.

Playing a team of Shiner's size could help to strengthen the Hornets as they prepare for further challenges, the coach said.

ANTWON PARSON

"They're humongous," Dowell said of the Comanches. "I thought they were one of the smaller Shiner teams, but after watching them out here, that's not true. They're big, strong and physical. They're good."

A positive the Hornets can take away from the game was the great defensive play of Matthew Blumrick. The linebacker was in on several stops throughout the night.

"He always plays that way," Dowell said. "He runs our defense - he's like the quarterback out there. Without Matthew, it's hard for us to go. He does a tremendous job. The kid plays hard and has a lot of heart."

The Hornets will travel to Charlotte next Friday for their second district game of the year.

Louise will host Woodsboro the following week for its homecoming game.