The Lockhart Lions and the Kerrville Tivy Antlers will celebrate their return to the playoffs by trying to beat each other.
The game will be Friday night at Antler Stadium.
Kerrville Tivy (5-4, 3-2 in 13-5A-DII) had made the playoffs 23 straight years through 2019 before missing the postseason the last two years. Dave Campbell’s Texas Football named Tivy as one of the top 10 programs in the state from 2014 to 2019.
Lockhart (6-3, 3-2 in 13-5A-DII) has earned their second playoff berth since 2015; they lost in the first round to Pflugerville Weiss in 2019.
Lockhart coach Todd Moebes, speaking of his own program but also describing Tivy’s, said, “One thing we’ve talked to our kids about is that the past is not predictive of what happens now.”
The Lions are led by their rushing attack. Running back Sean McKinney and quarterback Ashton Dickens have each rushed for well over 1000 yards this season. They run behind an offensive line which rotates Brady Stevenson (285 pound junior, third year on varsity), Nick Sifuentes (senior, 3-year starter), Alex Richardson (260 pound junior), Tanner Castillo (senior), Richard Diaz (junior), and Zephaniah Franks (freshman).
Moebes was hard pressed to highlight a leader, or a reason this diverse bunch has come together as a unit.
“I’d say that they’re all bell cows. There’s not necessarily one that’s the leader of the other. They all know what’s expected and what’s required, and they bring that every day.”
“The chemistry of the group is really good, they’re very well coached, and they’re executing at a high level.”
Tivy coach David Jones spoke admiringly of Lockhart’s team speed. Jones allowed that he’d seen such speed against other opponents – including Veterans Memorial – but could not simulate it in practice, making for a game day challenge.
Jones was named the 5A-DII Coach of the Week by the Padilla Poll for the Antlers’ stunning comeback victory against San Antonio Veterans Memorial at Rutledge Stadium. Tivy lost their first two district games (6-63 at Liberty Hill, 27-30 to Bastrop) before clinching a playoff spot with three consecutive wins. In their game against SA Vets, the Antlers trailed 17-0 early in the third quarter and 24-14 early in the fourth. Quarterback Kale Lackey’s 5 yard run gave Tivy their first lead at 28-24 with 3:32 remaining. After Vets retook the lead on Tavion Warren’s 8 yards touchdown run with 1:09 left, Logan Edmonds returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for the winning touchdown.
For all the fireworks at the end, Jones highlighted the defensive play of Eric Tenery (sack, 8 tackles), Garrett Abel (sack, fumble recovery, 14 tackles) and Gavin Garcia (sack, 20 tackles) in the Antlers’ triumph.
Jones joked about being haunted by the 31-28 score late in the game. Tivy lost games to Davenport and Fredericksburg by that very score, and lost 30-27 to Bastrop. The Edmonds kickoff return erased Jones’s déjà vu sensation.
“It was great to win. It was a horrible way to lose. I felt for Veterans Memorial.”
“I tell you what, we were very fortunate Thursday. They made a few mistakes, we were able to capitalize, and pulled one out.”
The return to the playoffs completes a rebound from a 2-7 season in 2020 and a 1-9 season in 2021. Along with the pandemic, the Tivy program had to cope with deaths of three fathers of players during that time. Also during the 2021 season, a Tivy player, David Palestrant, died in a car accident.
Jones spoke movingly about his team and the character that returned them to the postseason. “Their togetherness (impresses me). Their willingness to go through some tough times and not panic. One of things we’ve talked about is an all-in attitude: we stay together. I feel the resiliency they’ve shown, their ability to care about other people more than themselves has been evident, and think it’s gotten us to this point to where we have an opportunity to have a successful outcome.
Whatever Tivy’s won-loss record, Moebes’s respect for their program has never wavered. “Every year I watch the Antlers, they impress me. Just how hard and physical and how intelligent they play.”
Friday’s game against Lockhart will take place on the anniversary of Palestrant’s passing.
Lockhart clinched a playoff berth with their own comeback. Trailing 31-14 midway through the third against Bastrop, Lockhart got a 1 yard touchdown run from Dickens, a 3 yard TD run from McKinney and a 68 yard touchdown run from Dickens to claim the victory, their 35-31 margin matching Tivy’s against SA Vets. McKinney also returned a kickoff 70 yards for the Lions’ first touchdown.
Absent a major upset elsewhere in the district, the loser of this game will face Alamo Heights, ranked #10 in the state in the 5A-DII Padilla Poll, making Friday a “Dodge the Mules” contest. Neither coach would admit to seeing their game that way, though.
Tivy will host a playoff game, likely against Harlandale, should they win. Lockhart will most likely open on the road against Burbank if they earn the victory.
“We’re going to (tell) our kids, we’re trying to host a playoff game, and finish the season on a real positive note,” said Jones.
“We’ve had meetings this weekend. It’s nice to discuss our playoff plans, our playoff rules, how we bring kids up (from the JV), how we navigate the playoffs… Those are nice conversations to have that we have not had the last two years!” Jones relayed joyfully.
Moebes also professed not to be paying attention to the Mules behind the curtain. “We’ve got to go win a football game. (From research) Lockhart hasn’t beaten a Kerrville Tivy football team in 30 years.
“The good thing about it is that both Lockhart and Tivy are playing in Week 11. These kids get to play a football game knowing that they’ve got another week of practice, and that’s great for both teams.”
Mark Kusenberger
October 30, 2022
Read more from Mark on his blog at https://mkusenberger.wixsite.com/website/blog