With the win Lometa (5-3, 2-0) locks up a playoff spot while the Badgers (3-6, 0-2) fail to qualify for postseason play for the 11th consecutive season.
The game was stopped with 5:07 left because of the 45-point rule when Salinas caught a 2-yard pass from quarterback Dalton Parsons. The score capped a 48-yard, nine-play drive set up by a fumble recovery - the fourth turnover Buckholts committed in the game.
Trailing 41-0 at halftime, the Badgers played inspired football in the second half. They forced Lometa to turn the ball over on downs on its first possession of the third quarter, thanks to big defensive plays from Dustin Barker, Judge Love, Allen Shelton and Zach Gommert.
Buckholts then launched its first scoring drive, moving the distance in five plays. Quarterback William Watson connected with Shelton for a 26-yard gain, then found Gommert in the end zone from 12 yards out. Watson’s PAT kick made the score 41-8 with 4:17 remaining in the period.
On the Hornets next possession, Barker and Love sparked the Buckholts defense into again forcing Lometa to turn the ball over on downs, this time at its own 31.
A 14-yard pass to Love, a penalty against Lometa and a 9-yard run by Jonathan Pursche had the Badgers knocking on the door again at the Hornet 3. But on the next play Buckholts fumbled into the end zone and the Hornets recovered to thwart the drive.
Two passes from Parsons to Eric Belyeu netted 56 yards and had Lometa knocking at the end zone door at the Badger 4. Good plays by Jesus Reyes and Watson pushed the Hornets back to the 10. But then Parsons connected with Salinas in the end zone. Buckholts blocked the PAT kick, making the score 47-8 with 8:52 left.
On their next possession, the Badgers moved from their own 20 to the Lometa 29 - thanks to runs of 7 by Watson, and 15 and 8 by Barker - before a lost fumble set up the Hornets for the final scoring drive.
The difference between Buckholts in the first and second halves was like night and day. Or, perhaps more fitting for a game played on Halloween, like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
On offense the Badgers managed only one first down and 52 yards in the first half, compared to five first downs and 112 yards after the intermission.
On defense the difference was even more pronounced. Buckholts allowed 11 first downs, 187 yards rushing and 268 yards total in the first half; six first downs, negative 22 yards rushing and 107 yards total in the second half.
The Badger defense started the game playing with intensity, forcing Lometa into a net loss of 5 yards on its first possession and a punt from its own 11. Buckholts moved from its own 37 to the Hornet 31 before turning the ball over on downs.
Lometa then exploded, scoring on six straight possessions. The first covered 49 yards on four consecutive carries by Salinas, the last one from 23-yards out with 4:48 left in the first quarter.
The Hornets’ next drive also covered 49 yards in four plays, with Brandon Faubion tallying the touchdown on a 7-yard run with 2:25 remaining in the opening period.
In the second quarter Lometa registered touchdowns on a 3-yard run by Salinas, a 2-yard run by Faubion, a 52-yard run by Manuel Hernandez with 59 seconds left and a 50-yard pass from Parsons to Faubion on the final play of the half.
rray@temple-telegram.com
