The LC-M Bears outlasted a scrappy Vidor Pirates team to secure a thrilling 34-28 district win in overtime on Friday night at Bear Stadium.
The first quarter saw both teams finding yards and points hard to find as neither team scored and both teams combined for nine penalties. However, it was the Pirates who found the end zone at the start of the second quarter as running back Isaac Fontnow zipped 37-yards for the touchdown and a 7-0 Vidor lead with 11:12 remaining in the half.
The Bears responded on the next drive moving the ball 74 yards in 8 plays in only three minutes as quarterback Dylan Payne punched the ball in on a quarterback keeper to even the score, 7-7.
Following a Vidor punt, the Bears offense was on the march again this time going 63 yards in 8 plays in just over three minutes as Payne scored again from 3-yards out to give LC-M a 14-7 lead at the break.
The Bears defense was flying to the ball all night and keeping a usually potent Vidor offense in check. The Bears forced a Pirates three-and-out and took over at the Vidor 30-yard line following a 12-yard punt. Payne and the LC-M offense only needed three plays to find the end zone as Payne scored on a 4-yard keeper to put the Bears ahead, 21-7 early in the third quarter.
Just when it looked as LC-M might run away with the game, the Vidor offense started showing signs of life after a pass interference call on the Bears defense gave the Pirates a first down in LC-M territory. The keep play of the drive was the next play as Fontnow ripped off a dazzling 42-yard scamper around the right side and down the sideline to the Bears 11 yard line. Fullback Riley Marlow punched the ball in for the score two plays later to cut the Bears lead to 21-14 with 6:17 to play in the third quarter.
The Pirates defense responded and forced the Bears to punt. However, a bad snap sent the ball passed the punter and the Vidor defense recovered the ball at the LC-M 23-yard line. Fontnow carried the ball three consecutive times before scoring on a 4-yard run to even the score at 21-21 with 3:19 remaining in the third quarter.
LC-M answered the Pirates with a methodical 50-yard drive that featured several runs from Payne and running back Jonah Fuller. Payne punched the ball in on a keeper from the 1-yard line to put the Bears back in front, 28-21, with 8:35 left in the game. Fuller led the Bears rushing attack with 121 yards on 19 carries, while Payne had 22 carries for 105 yards and four touchdowns on the night. Payne also completed 9 passes on 18 attempts for 106 yards and one touchdown.
Vidor had its best drive of the night on the next possession as the Pirates used nearly every second of the clock on 63 yard, 16-play drive that consumed 8:09 seconds of the remaining clock. Facing third and goal from the 1-yard line with 29 seconds left, it was quarterback Daigan Venable who scored on a sneak to force the game into overtime at 28-28.
The Bears won the toss and opted to go on defense first, which turned out to be the right call as the defense smothered the Vidor offense and forced a turnover on downs.
Payne and the Bears offense won the game on the next possession as Payne connected with receiver Khayden Reed on a 13-yard catch and run for the 34-28 overtime win.
Vidor (3-3, 0-1) will host the Lumberton Raiders (3-3, 1-0) for homecoming next Friday. The Raiders smashed Splendora, 41-7, on Friday night. The Bears (3-3, 1-0) host the Livingston Lions (1-5, 1-0) next Friday. Livingston defeated Huffman-Hargrave 44-28 on Friday night.
-Tommy Mann, Jr, KOGT-
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