Lyman Ward vs. Abbeville Christian

Rangers fall on field goal block returned for a touchdown

From Staff Reports

Published Saturday, September 26, 2009

Abbeville Christian blocked Lyman Ward’s go-ahead 22-yard field goal with less than two minutes to go and returned it for a touchdown to defeat the Rangers 22-14.

Lyman Ward head coach Sheldon Ward said he was pleased with his team’s effort in the heartbreaking loss.

“This is the best effort I’ve seen since the first game of last season,” Ward said. “I feel like we’re beginning to come on as a team. We just had a bad break at the end.”

Abbeville Christian jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, but the Rangers chipped away at that lead scoring one touchdown before halftime. Lyman Ward tied the game early in the fourth quarter.

“We had them right where we wanted them,” Ward said. “We got about 350 yards rushing. We ran the ball down their throats.”

However, the two touchdowns actually came through the air. Robert Stegall threw touchdown passes to DeWayne Pritchett and Allen Tutwiler.

Then, Lyman Ward put together a drive late in the game that could have won it. They got down inside the 5-yard line and lined up for the go-ahead field goal, but Ward said they just couldn’t get a clean kick to win it.

“The snap was low and they got good penetration,” Ward said. “But I’m proud of the way our guys played tonight.”

The Rangers return home next week for their game with Crenshaw Christian.