Second-half penalties costly in 14-0 loss

    Going into last Friday’s game, Longhorn Head Coach Nathan Gaswick felt the Valentine Badgers mirrored the Longhorns in a lot of ways.
    After playing larger C1 teams in their first four games,  the Longhorns were finally playing a similar C2 opponent they matched up better with across the board.
    Plus, it was the Longhorns’ opening game in district play.
    The first quarter Friday showed it was going to be a game neither team was going to run away with.
    Early in the second quarter, Valentine’s quarterback scrambled and then found a receiver behind the Longhorn defense for a 75-yard scoring strike.
    With the quarter winding down, Valentine picked off a Longhorn pass at their own 38. Five plays later, a wide open receiver took the ball in from 24 yards out to put the Longhorns down 14-0 going into halftime.
    At the break, Gaswick challenged his team to stand up and answer.
    The Longhorns started to gain some momentum after fumbling away their first possession of the second half on their own 38.
    Two defensive penalties on the Longhorns moved the ball to the 10 yard line. There, the defense made a stand and turned the Badgers back.
    The Longhorns couldn’t move the ball and their ensuing punt went out-of-bounds at their own 20.
    Again the defense turned back the Badgers. They got the ball back at their own 12 and moved it to midfield before being forced to punt, pinning Valentine back on their own 15.
    After suffering from poor field position much of the third, they got a chance to flip the field after the defense forced a three-and-out.
    Chase Rowley took the punt from his own 45 down to the Badger 23. However, an illegal block moved the ball back into Longhorn territory.
    That drive ended when Valentine picked off another pass at the Badger 10.
    Another Longhorn penalty got Valentine out of their hole and they advanced to midfield before the defense could force a punt.
    Another illegal block on the return moved the ball back to to the Longhorn 10.
    Runs by quarterback Ryan

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