With the hype of homecoming, the Broncos entered Newsom Stadium aspiring to win two games against a win less Midlothian Panther team. Unfortunately, turnovers cost the Broncos a win and the game ended with a 14-16 loss.
The Broncos started with the ball and inside the panther 20 yard line. However, Midlothian linebacker Nathan Fisher intercepted quarterback Decarlos Humphrey’s pass to take away potential points from Legacy and give Midlothian the ball.
“The turnovers inside the 25 hurt us,” Head Coach Chris Melson said. “It wasn’t a lack of effort we just didn’t execute as well as we should have in very crucial moments.”
The Bronco defense bailed their offense out by forcing the panthers to turn the ball over on downs to give the broncos the ball back with good field position and hope to redeem themselves for the mistake they made earlier. Running back Andrew Antia did just that when he darted off for a 14 yard run to put the broncos up 7-0. Midlothian retaliated with a field goal with five minutes left in the second quarter that tightened the score 7-3. After a legacy punt, the Panthers capped off a 55 yard drive with a six yard touchdown from quarterback Dillon Fairbanks to wide receiver, Phillip Smith to give Midlothian the lead 10-7 into halftime. Midlothian added to their lead in the second half when running back Justin Seeton ran it in from three yards out make the score 16-7 in the third quarter. Legacy took just five plays to retaliate, starting with a 33 yard rush by Antia and ended with a 24 yard rushing touchdown by Humphrey to tighten the score 14-16. Rather than attempting a 48 yard field goal, the Broncos tried to convert a fourth and seven at the Midlothian 31 yard line. However, Humphrey’s pass was intercepted by Midlothian’s Brice Murphy. Legacy got one last chance to get the lead when they faced another 4th and 7 inside panther territory with two minutes left in the game. Humphrey’s pass to wide receiver Josh Doctson was incomplete and the game ended with the Broncos on the losing end 14-16.
“A mistake here and there in a game will cost you,” Melson said. “Everybody played their hearts out and played with a lot of courage, it just didn’t work out.”
The Broncos now sit at 1-2 in district and face the Mansfield Tigers next week. Melson said that his team will correct their mistakes in practice and are motivated to take on their rivals.
“We’re going to get the kids going and execute our best,” Melson said. “We have Mansfield High next week and there’s no one we’d rather play than those guys.”
