“We’ve got to do a better job of stopping the run and do a better job at stopping big plays on defense,” head coach Earven Flowers said after the game. “We have to be consistent in the second half offensively. That’s something us coaches have to find a better way to do things period. That’s us.”
After Lampasas opened up the game with a long touchdown run, Taylor senior quarterback Joshua Mikulencak engineered a drive deep into Badgers’ territory that eventually stalled. However, the Ducks got on the board thanks to a field goal by senior kicker Isaac Castro to get within a 7-3 deficit midway through the first quarter.
The Badgers capitalized on a Taylor fumble deep in their own territory. Although the Ducks’ defense put up a tough fight to keep Lampasas out of the end zone, the Badgers scored on fourthand-goal inside the 1-yard line on a quarterback sneak to take a 15-3 lead.
Opening the second quarter, Taylor drove the ball again with Mikulencak at the helm as he was able to get the ball to his brother, senior wide receiver Jacob Mikulencak, for most of the first half. Taylor would score on a short touchdown run by senior running back Marcus Jackson to get right back in the game down 15-10.
When Lampasas drove down the field and scored again early in the second quarter to extend the lead to 22-10, the Ducks were in trouble with the Badgers driving again on offense on their next possession. However, the Taylor defense held its ground as junior linebacker Nick Treuter scooped up a fumble and returned the ball into Lampasas territory. Taylor’s offense answered the call as Joshua Mikulencak connected for a short touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Jackson Meller to get within 22-17.
Lampasas continued to run on the Ducks’ defense with a 59yard touchdown run but Taylor’s offense responded again. Following a long pass completed from Joshua Mikulencak to senior wide receiver Jordan Pickerill to get deep into Lampasas territory, senior running back Alejandro Randle scored on a 1-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter as Taylor faced a 29-24 deficit at halftime.
The Ducks’ offense simply could not get much going in the second half as Lampasas’ defense shut Taylor down the rest of the way. Despite Taylor being able to move the ball with decent chunk plays, the Ducks could not convert on fourth-down opportunities in Badger territory.
“We’re spreading the ball around, we just have to make plays when it’s time to make plays,” Flowers said. “We’re getting in too many third and long situations, and that’s easy for a defense. On the opposite end, we get to a third down, we have to find a way to get off the field. We have to do a better job overall.”
The Ducks will travel next Friday to take on Marble Falls High School in a must-win district game. The Mustangs are just 1-6 on the season but are expected to put up a fight.
“We can’t overlook anybody,” Flowers said. “We have a 3-4 record, we’ve got to win games. We have to win to have an opportunity for the playoffs. If that’s not enough to motivate you, I don’t know what is.”
