For the duration of Legacy Ranch's home game against Lake Travis on Thursday night, one wouldn't have been able to discern the perennial powerhouse program from the first-year fledgling outfit, as the teams battled evenly before the Cavaliers eventually outlasted the Wranglers by a 21-9 score.
In fact, after Legacy Ranch quarterback Will Cunningham found teammate Reid Robertson on a 48-yard catch-and-run touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, the Columbia-and-Navy pulled to within a single score at 14-6 with 2:40 left in regulation.
Once the visitors answered with a score of their own, the outcome was sealed, but Wranglers head coach Tim Knicky was certainly pleased with what he witnessed from his squad.
“I told the guys after the game – I'll be honest – I'll never like or be accepting of losing,” said Knicky. “But, I learned everything I need to know about this group tonight – they're fighters, champions and answered the bell tonight – they fought their tail off from start to finish and I can't tell you how proud I am to be their coach.”
After receiving the opening kickoff of their first-ever game, the Wranglers lined up in a spread formation, with Cunningham hitting Aiden Jones with a pass that was good for a 12-yard gain and a first down.
However, after moving the ball into Lake Travis territory, Cunningham lost a fumble on the 10th play of the drive at the Lake Travis 15-yard-line, which the Cavaliers recovered.
But, the Wranglers' defense came out of the gates with a purpose and forced a three-and-out and a Lake Travis punt, with the contest ultimately remaining scoreless at the end of the first quarter.
Legacy Ranch looked to have gotten on the scoreboard for the first time in the game – and the program's history – when Drew Langord caught a Cunningham pass over the middle and rumbled 53 yards down the sideline for a touchdown, only to be called back on an illegal block.
The Wranglers finally did dent the board when kicker Cody Hawkins hit a 30-yard field goal as the clock ran out on the first half after Cavaliers quarterback Jason Carter had opened the scoring on a 15-yard run, leaving the score 7-3 at halftime.
According to Knicky, his defense came to play from the get-go.
“Our defense did a great job,” said Knicky. “We always preach for them to swarm to the ball and good things will happen – they were lights out tonight.”
Following a scoreless third quarter during which the teams traded punts, Lake Travis' Elliot Su scored from three yards out to extend the Cavaliers' lead to 14-3 with 7:07 left in the fourth.
But, that was when the Wranglers answered with the first touchdown in school history on a remarkable play during which Cunningham narrowly evaded the pass rush and found Robertson with a short throw the wideout hauled in, then proceeded to pick up blockers all the way to the end zone. Only a failed pass on the ensuing 2-point conversion attempt prevented the home side from cutting the Cavaliers' lead to a touchdown.
An onside kick attempt by the Wranglers failed and eventually it was Carter that broke loose down the left sideline on a 42-yard scoring run – his second of the game – to close out the scoring.
Cunningham finished 15-of-24 for 168 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions.
Legacy Ranch (0-1) will next travel to Bastrop on Wednesday to face Freeman in the program's inaugural away contest.
Despite the result, Knicky said his squad acquitted itself quite well – especially considering the caliber of the competition.
“We had some errors throughout the game that costs you games when two good football teams are playing,” he said. “But, we scheduled Lake Travis for a reason – they're a good team, but so are we. So we'll get back to work and get better because there's a bright future for this group.”
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