Lone Oak tops rival in overtime thriller

LONE OAK – In a game that hangs on every inch, it was the one the visiting Caddo Mills Foxes couldn’t get that cost them dearly Friday night. Despite a tremendous effort by quarterback Tre Couvillion, the Foxes (0-1) fell short in a thrilling overtime game at Buffalo Stadium, falling to Lone Oak by a 21-14 count.

After the Buffaloes took the lead in overtime on Ty Tolleson’s 10-yard run, the Foxes moved the ball down to the 11 and faced a 4^th and 8 when the game ended on a crazy note. Couvillion weaved through Lone Oak defenders and appeared to have a clean shot at the end zone when the ball was stripped from his grasp, and rolled into the end zone. Trever Lasseter didn’t make a clean recovery, but managed to have the last touch on the ball, knocking it away from Couvillion and out of bounds to end a sloppy contest played in front of a capacity crowd. Lone Oak (1-0) committed five turnovers, and Caddo Mills was plagued by 17 penalties totaling 135 yards.

The Buffaloes turned the ball over on their first two possessions, losing a fumble on the first series that was recovered by Caddo Mills senior Jerome Grant, and then Lasseter was intercepted by Dalton Curry the next time out. On their third possession, the Foxes got on the board when a Lone Oak holding penalty in the end zone resulted in a safety for a 2-0 lead. The Buffaloes answered right back on their next series, as Lasseter connected with Zach Douglas on a 75-yard touchdown strike. Reed Elmore’s extra point hit the upright and missed, leaving Lone Oak with a 6-2 advantage.

Dakota Monroe picked off a Lasseter pass to set up the Foxes’ first touchdown. Caddo Mills moved the ball down to the 10 yard line and faced 4^th and goal from that spot, when Couvillion rolled right and found DaQuan Stoker for a touchdown. Lone Oak blocked the PAT, but the Foxes held a slim 8-6 lead at the break.

Just three plays into the second half, the Foxes widened the gap, courtesy of a 34-yard interception return touchdown by Josh Jackson. Tyler Kirkpatrick missed the PAT and the score stayed at 14-6. With just 57 seconds left in the third period, Lone Oak pulled even at 14-14 with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Lasseter to Douglas, followed by Douglas’ conversion run.

In the overtime period, Lone Oak needed just four plays to score, the last being Tolleson’s 10-yard game-winner, push the junior past the century mark in rushing. Tolleson finished with 108 yards on 18 carries. Couvillion led all rushers with 147 yards on 27 carries. Lasseter passed for 155 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions, while Douglas hauled in three passes for 107 yards, including a pair of touchdowns. Lone Oak outgained the Foxes by a 297-255 margin.



Lone Oak will take to the road next week to face Clarksville, while the Foxes will open their home schedule against Community. Both games begin at 7:30 p.m.