ELGIN—All of the accomplishments of the 2009 Lago Vista Vikings were of little consolation on Friday night. The team, after winning its first ever district title and making only the second playoff appearance in school history, fell to Hempstead 21-14 in heartbreaking fashion in the bi-district round of the 2A state playoffs.
Hempstead quarterback Obie Wilder led the Bobcats to a 14-0 lead, connecting with LaQuinton Sargent for a 39-yard touchdown pass and finding Kendrick Wilder for 45 yards to set up a second score, a one-yard run by Archie Taylor.
“Along with the Bandera quarterback (Cole Hubble), Obie is one of the most athletic players we’ve faced in terms of being difficult to contain,” said Lago Vista head coach Alan Haire.
Despite dominating the game statistically, the Vikings found themselves trailing at halftime for only the second time this season. Penalties and a costly turnover stalled several Viking drives.
“We had our chances in the first half, and we just didn’t capitalize on them,” Haire said. “We were at the nine-yard line and the six-yard line and didn’t score, and that really hurt us.”
The second half was a different story. While the Lago Vista defense shackled Wilder and the usually explosive Bobcat offense, Jason Cormier paced a steady rushing attack that chipped away at Hempstead’s lead.
“Our kids came out of the locker room expecting to win the game,” Haire said.
JeMarcus Johnson’s 57-yard kick return to open the second half set up a Garrett Swann touchdown run that cut the lead to 14-7. Cormier tied the game at 14 with a five-yard run in the fourth quarter, and the teams were forced into overtime. The senior finished the game with 117 yards on 33 carries.
In the extra period, Wilder struck again, finding Ronald Taylor on fourth and goal for a 21-14 lead. On the ensuing possession, Lago Vista drove inside the Hempstead 10-yard line, but was unable to convert a fourth down attempt with one yard to go.
The loss, while devastating, shouldn’t take away from one of the most exciting seasons in school history, Haire said.
“I really hate it for the kids that it had to end like that,” he said, “but I still think that this was a great season for us, and you hope that we can come back and build on this next season.”
Building on this season’s success could be made easier by the fact that the Vikings will return one of the best defensive units in the region next year. Austin Terry, Dakota Haines, Montre Buford and Donald Hopkins are only a few of the players expected to be back on the defensive side of the ball.
In addition, Bingham is set to take over the lion’s share of the carries out of the Viking backfield, and Johnson will bring his athleticism back to every facet of the game.