Photo by Brian McLean
By Nolan Ruth
X – @RealNolanRuth
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NORTH RICHLAND HILLS— This time last year, the Springtown Porcupines got a taste of how tough Region 2 can be in class 4A, getting eliminated by Sulphur Springs. This time around, a fairly young prickle of Porcupines marched into the Birdville Fine Arts/Athletic Complex determined to not let the Frisco Panther Creek Panthers do the same.
Despite trailing late in the first half, Springtown seized momentum and cruised in the second half to a 49-41 win, advancing to the regional semifinals to face Alvarado at a time and location to be determined.
“It’s different when you’re playing those top teams,” head coach Brian Hulett said after the game. “We weren’t quite ready for it and we didn’t feel we played well right at first. We just hung in there and kept playing and talked at half remembering the Southwest game down 14-7 at half and it was the exact same scenario, ‘Do we feel like we’re better? Yes.’ That was the main point.”
The Panthers tried to set an early tone by taking the opening drive 74 yards in 11 plays, taking just 3:24 off of the clock, capped off by a four yard pass from Graylyn Fry to Jalen Lott to take a 7-0 lead.
The Porcupines tried to respond with a long, methodical drive but ultimately stalled and missed a field goal just before time ran out in the first quarter.
However, Springtown was able to force a punt to open the second quarter, and four plays later, Jon Anthony Lardizabal began his stellar night with a 44-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7.
Lardizabal finished his night rushing for 273 yards on 32 carries and five touchdowns.
Panther Creek responded on the ensuing drive when running back Shawn White broke free up the middle from 24 yards out.
White was the shining star for the Panthers, rushing for 105 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns.
The Porcupines then went three-and-out, allowing Panther Creek to extend the lead when White scored again from four yards out to make the score 21-7, midway through the second quarter.
This time, Springtown had a response. The offense drove all the way down to the one yard line where Lardizabal finished the job with his second touchdown. It was then that Hulett decided to gamble. A surprise onside kick found its way into the hands of Springtown’s Caymon Watson and the Porcupines retained possession.
Knowing that it would get the ball to start the second half, Springtown started playing a game of chess against both the Panther defense, and the clock. After driving down to the seven yard line, and allowing just the perfect amount of time to run down, quarterback Kaine Hill connected with Karson Ferguson, tying the game 21-21 at halftime.
As it turned out, that was enough momentum going into the break to carry the Porcupines for the rest of the game. That was made clear on the first play from scrimmage when Christian Mendoza took the end-around 87 yards to paydirt, giving Springtown its first lead of the game. The Porcupines did not surrender that lead.
Panther Creek tried to respond with a deep pass that they thought would fool the Springtown defense, but Aiden Adams played the ball perfectly. He threw his hands up to block the ball, but instead it hit his hands, and without even looking, Adams came down with a crucial interception to keep the Porcupines in control.
The offense then went 97 yards on 12 plays to cement Springtown’s control of the game, capped off by Lardizabal’s three yard touchdown run to make the lead 35-21 after three quarters of play.
“The first half I felt we were just getting a feel for them,” Lardizabal commented. “During halftime, Coach said ‘Play for your brothers.’ so I did what I had to do and we just love each other as brothers, you know?”
After a defensive stop, Lardizabal did it again from 20 yards out, pretty much solidifying a Springtown win. However, the game was not quite over, and the Panthers still found a way to get some breath.
On the ensuing drive, Fry connected with Parker Ord from 20 yards out to cut into the deficit. However, Springtown refused to let the game slip away, as Lardizabal collected his fifth touchdown from five yards out to make the score 49-28.
Panther Creek again had a response, trying to get back into the game. Fry dropped back and found running back White open in the endzone from 11 yards out to pull within two touchdowns.
With under two minutes to go, Springtown got conservative on the offensive play calling, and ultimately had to punt the ball away. As time expired, the Panthers scored one more time, but it was merely academic as there was no chance at a comeback, and the Porcupines stood victorious.
