Indians Snap Themselves In The Foot, Lightening Does The Rest

Lightening ended any chance for a second half comeback against Mineola for the Grand Saline Indians. Trailing 14-0 at the half, lightening lit the sky as the teams prepared to come out for the second half. Forty-five minutes later, the game was called, and the Indians were saddled with the third loss of the season.

The Indians showed enough flashes to tease the home crowd, but had a miscue to match every flash.

Thomas Miller flashed first, returning the opening kickoff 40 yards to midfield. The Indians moved quickly to the 25 on runs by Taylor Phelps (19) and Ryan Larpenteur (12), but on first and 10 from there, a mishandled deep snaps in the spread formation loss 10 yards. It would be the first of several losses the Indians incurred on the snap.

On third and 20 from the 35, a tipped pass fell into the Mineola cornerback’s hand, and the Yellowjackets took over at the 30.

Mineola then went on a 13-play, 70-yard drive. The Yellowjacket offense converted three third downs on the drive, picking up 16 on a third-and-13, 13 yards on a third-and-nine, and 10 yards on a third-and-eight.

On a second-and-three from the eight, Paul Nevarez scored the first of his two touchdowns with 2:37 left in the first quarter. Matt Shade added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

Josh Carpenter ripped off a 20-yard return of the kickoff, and the Indians went on a 12-play drive, picking up three first downs. But on first-and-10 from the 24, another errant snap sent Phelps scrambling on a 12-yard loss, and the Indians eventually punted.

The Grand Saline defense began getting pressure in the middle, and a pair of sacks forced Mineola into a foruth-and-30 punt.

Carpenter returned the kick 25 yards to midfield. Facing a fourth-and-five from the 45, the Indians mishandled another snap, losing 16 yards to the 39. On first down, Nevarez took it the distance for his second touchdown. Shade again kicked the extra point, and the Yellowjackets led 14-0 with 2:06 left.

That would be the score at the half, and the score in the books as a final.

The Indians will have an open date next Friday before hosting Winnsboro on September 25.