Longhorns roll in their season opener
The 2018 Holcomb Longhorns feature mostly new starters, but that didn’t stop the Longhorns from rolling to a season-opening win over the Goodland Cowboys, 34-12.
The defense set the tone, stopping Goodland on a three-and-out on the opening series and the offense followed up with an 11-play, 67 yard drive. Jayson Lambert tumbled in from three yards out and sophomore Edgar Ramirez added the extra point to give the Longhorns an early 7-0 lead.
The Longhorns recovered the ensuing kickoff, but couldn’t turn the opportunity into points, turning the ball over on downs.
Holcomb’s next possession would also end in disappointment, as the Longhorns drove to the Cowboy 10, but Ortner’s 1st-down pass was picked off by Goodland’s Tayton Weeter, after a deflection.
The defense forced another Goodland punt and this time Holcomb capitalized on good field position driving 49 yards in 4 plays. First-year starting quarterback Peyton Ortner finished the drive with a nifty 33-yard cut-back run for the TD. Ramirez added the PAT and Holcomb led 14-0.
Goodland responded with its best offensive drive of the night, covering 65 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 25-yard TD pass from Leyton Cure to Weeter. Their extra point attempt failed and Holcomb led 14-6 with just 1:21 remaining in the half.
The Longhorns struck quickly after Lambert returned the kick to the Goodland 46. Three plays later Lambert scored his 2nd TD of the night, dashing in from six yards out with 28 seconds left in the half. Ramirez added the extra point to give Holcomb a 21-6 halftime lead.
The Longhorns raced out of the gate to start the 2nd half, recovering Goodland’s onside kick attempt to start the 3rd quarter, and then driving 51 yards in 5 plays for the touchdown. Ortner rolled in from 11 yards out and Ramirez added the PAT to push the Longhorn lead to 28-6.
On Goodland’s next possession, the Longhorns would block a punt and take over at the Cowboy 33. Kobe Hands took over at quarterback and his long pass to the end zone on 2nd-and-long was picked off by Goodland’s Blake Sanderson at the one yard line.
The Longhorn defense stood up again, this time turning away a 4th-down attempt by the Cowboys, giving the offense the ball back at the Goodland 11. A block-in-the-back penalty negated a would-be Jacob Henson touchdown and Holcomb eventually turned it over on downs.
Goodland’s offense would finally get a big play, as the Cowboys struck on an 83-yard pass play to Sanderson to trim the Longhorn lead to 28-12.
Holcomb would finish off the scoring midway through the 4th quarter, with Ortner capping a 41-yard drive with a 3-yard run. Ramirez missed the extra point, his only miss of the night, and Holcomb led 34-12. Edgar Ramirez, getting his first chance as the placekicker, hit 4 of 5 PAT attempts on the night.
Peyton Ortner led the Longhorn rushing attack, with 98 yards and 3 TDs. Jayson Lambert added 79 yards and two TDs. The Longhorn defense was stout all night, holding the Cowboys to just 57 yards rushing. Goodland did throw for 129 yards, with most of that coming on their one big play.
Holcomb will host Scott City this next Friday in a big GWAC showdown.
