The Dumas Bobcats suffered a 19-13 conference loss to the Hamburg Lions on Homecoming Night at Dumas Friday, September 23, 2022.
Homecoming is always a great event for any high school, for the fans, families and communities.
Homecoming is also sometimes a distraction for the football players that coaches at all high schools have to battle. The coaches talk to their teams about focus, during all the event involved in Homecoming week.
It's a lot to ask of any group of teenage football players to focus after the events that surrounded Friday night's game with Hamburg. As shots rang out and panic kicked in, the night became more than Homecoming, more than a high school football game. The gunfire heard that night, brought panic, terror and I'm sure flash backs to what happen months ago in Fred's Parking lot when 27 people, including children were shot. After all that, imagine trying to get teenagers to refocus on the football game.
I asked Dumas Head Football Coach Antonio Lovelady if the events that occurred, outside football, had any effect on kids minds?
“I hate to say it, but yes, it was the tale of two halves,” said Coach. “In the first half we were focused, determined, played well, we were winning. The kids were excited and into it. I harped all week to them to Do Your Job and they were doing their job. But then in the second half, Hamburg was kind of getting a little momentum, they scored before the end of the first half to make it 13-7.”
“We come out of halftime and score on our first drive of the second half,” said Coach. “They got the ball and were actually moving the ball during the third quarter and that's when those event happened and we totally lost focus and could never recover from it.”
Thankfully, no one was hurt getting out of the stands. Some things are bigger than whats happening on the football field.
“I didn't really know anything that was going on,” said Coach. “I kind of heard some things. You know you're in the middle of a game and somebody, I think it was one of the administrators standing on the track said coach, those were gun shots we've got to get off the field. I looked up and I saw the fans started running, moving around and getting hysterical. I told the officials and we all got off the field and went to the locker room and it was still even crazy in the locker room. People trying to look for shelter and I can understand that. At the same time, you're looking around to make sure that no one is in danger in here, in the locker room. It was the first time I've ever experienced something like that.
“We finally got things calmed down and the officials told us we had three minutes to warm up,” said Coach. “My kids never recovered from it, you know. And I hate to say it, but I really feel like that was a big part of us coming out on the wrong end of the game. We just completely lost focus.”
“You take Hamburg,” said Coach. “I know their coach well. They were over there huddled up talking probably football, where we're trying to get off the situation and make sure everybody's okay. Then we go right back out and play ball. It's a difference.”
UP NEXT
The Bobcats travel to Monticello Friday September 30 to take on the Billies.
“Monticello has a lot of speed,” said Coach. “Receivers are fast, their running back is fast. They're a good looking team. They are a 4-3 defensive team. They're sound. There coaching staff does a good job with those kids. They'll be ready.”
GAME STATS
Total Offense:
Dumas 185; Hamburg 266
PASSING:
Dumas 20 of 32 attempts for 207 yards and two touchdowns.
Hamburg 2 of 10 attempts for 21 yards.
Joseph Jones completed 19 of 31 pass attempts for 181 yards and one touchdown, while Guillermo Petty completed one pass for a 26 yard touchdown.
RECEIVING
Guillermo Petty caught 13 passes for 133 yards.
Jaylyne Jones caught three passes for 41 yards.
Braylon Haynes caught one pass for 26 yards.
Raylen Spratt caught two passes for seven yards.
Celeb Sterrett caught one pass.
RUSHING:
Dumas 15 carries for -22 yards
Hamburg 43 carries for 245 yards
Raylen Spratt rushed for three yards on two carries, while Jaylon Jordan carried three times for one yard. Joseph Jones had three carries for -26 yards which included sacks.
DEFENSE
Ethan Cruce made nine tackles, five solo and eight assisted.
Tanner Moreland made seven tackles, four solo and six assisted.
Chancey Dale made five tackles, three solo and four assisted.
Malcolm Crompton made 4.5 tackles, two solo and five assisted.
Jerry McGehee made 3.5 tackles, one solo and five assisted.
Jayvon Baker made three tackles, two solo and two assisted.
Daniel Curtis made three tackles, one solo and two assisted.
Robert Alford made 1.5 tackles, one solo and one assisted.
Trenten Knight, Samuel Mondragon, Raylen Spratt and Braylon Haynes made one tackle each.
Tayveon Wilson, Ronald Johnson and Vincent Corry had one assisted tackle each.
