Coronado football season encapsulated in area playoff loss to Midlothian

ABILENE — In many ways, Friday's area playoff against Midlothian captured the spirit of the entirety of the Coronado football team's season.

There was the rough start — two turnovers on the Mustangs' first two possessions that resulted in touchdowns. Coronado began the year 0-3.

Then there was the turnaround — after falling behind 21-0, the Mustangs scored 17 unanswered and had a chance to win. Coronado won a share of the district title and entered the second round victorious in seven of its past eight.

Ultimately, what contributed to the bad times ended the team's season.

Trailing by four, the Mustangs faced fourth-and-2 at the Panthers' 9-yard line late in the game. Midlothian stripped standout running back Antonio Malone and recovered to thwart the drive. It was Coronado's fifth turnover.

More: Lone Star Varsity Athletes of the Week: Coronado's Smith, Lubbock-Cooper's Stripling

The Panthers, on the back of junior De'ago Benson, ran out the final 4:18 to clinch a 21-17 victory in the Class 5A Division I playoff at Sandifer Stadium. Benson, who led the team with 95 rushing yards, carried on the first six plays of the drive, which included a conversion on fourth-and-1.

"You can't turn the ball over against good teams," Coronado coach D.J. Mann said. "We did that and we weren't successful."

The Mustangs (7-5) found themselves in a 14-0 hole less than four minutes into the game. A Xavionte Jackson interception and return on the opening possession set up the Panthers at the Coronado 5. Two plays later, Michael Garber punched it in.

Coronado moved the ball on its second drive but lost a fumble on a mishandled exchange. Three plays later, Garber broke away on a 45-yard scoring run.

More: Texas High School Football scores for Lubbock and Amarillo, playoffs

"It's critical to start fast," Midlothian coach Doug Wendel said. "They're a really, really good football team, and they showed really good character and toughness fighting back tonight. I was very impressed with Lubbock Coronado. We were fortunate to come out here with a win."

The Mustangs countered with a march deep into the red zone. But Coronado came up empty after having first-and-goal at the Midlothian 2. The Panthers followed with a 14-play, 96-yard drive that ended with Chad Ragle's 1-yard quarterback sneak for a TD.

Just like that, Midlothian led 21-0 after scoring on its first three possessions. But like the Mustangs did after starting the season 0-3, the team got on track in a hurry.

Malone, who finished with a game-high 186 rushing yards, carried on six of the seven plays of Coronado's first scoring drive. He punched it in from 1 yard out to put the Mustangs on the board.

Following a missed field goal, Coronado needed only three plays to pull within one score. Jett Carroll connected with Trevor Stephens on consecutive plays, the second going for a 62-yard TD. Stephens finished with a game-high seven catches for 125 yards.

The Mustangs were confident coming out of halftime with a 21-14 deficit, but turnovers again loomed their ugly heads.

Midlothian had takeaways on Coronado's first two possessions of the third quarter. The Mustangs defense held firm, forcing a pair of three-and-outs and stopping a fourth-down attempt in between.

Taking over late in the third quarter, Coronado drove to the Panthers' 8 before consecutive false-start penalties. The 13-play drive ended with a 30-yard field goal by Carson Shields.

The Mustangs held all the momentum after linebacker John Curry pounced on a Ragle's errant option pitch at the Coronado 37. Coronado drove to the Midlothian 9, where it faced third-and-2. Malone carried twice, which included the tide-turning takeaway on fourth down.

"I had a feeling we were going to win the game," Mann said. "I called a bad play."

It was a heart-wrenching end to a season Mann and the Mustangs felt should've been longer. But the first-year coach at his alma mater said the game showed his team's character.

"The kids got heart," Mann said. "They've got heart and they believe. They're a tough group of kids, and I wouldn't trade them for anybody. … I'm proud of what they accomplished, but this isn't what we signed up for. This is not what we signed up for, to end like this. We'll be all right."

CLASS 5A DIVISION I AREA

MIDLOTHIAN 21, CORONADO 17

Coronado 0 14 0 3 — 17

Midlothian 14 7 0 0 — 21

Scoring summary

First quarter

MID — Michael Garber 5 run (Tyson Williams kick), 10:22

MID — Garber 45 run (Williams kick), 8:03

Second quarter

MID — Chad Ragle 45 run (Williams kick), 8:36

COR — Antonio Malone 1 run (Carson Shields kick), 6:34

COR — Trevor Stephens 62 pass from Jett Carroll (Shields kick), 1:30

Fourth quarter

COR — Shields 30 field goal, 8:55

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs: (C) 25; (M) 16

Rushes-Yards: (C) 36-190; (M) 52-298

Passing: (C) 233; (M) 47

Comp-Att-Int: (C) 22-34-2; (M) 2-8-0

Punts-Avg: (C) 0; (M) 2-36

Fumbles-Lost: (C) 5-3; (M) 2-1

Penalties-Yards: (C) 6-50; (M) 5-43

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Coronado, Antonio Malone 29-186, Jett Carroll 4-12, Team 3-(-8). Midlothian, De'ago Benson 16-95, Michael Garber 11-85, Kaden Smith 5-82, Jordon Richburg 8-35, Chad Ragle 10-6, Team 2-(-5).

PASSING: Coronado, Carroll 22-34-2—233. Midlothian, Ragle 2-7-0—47, Xavionte Jackson 0-1-0—0.

RECEIVING: Coronado, Trevor Stephens 7-125, Will Boyles 5-53, Jikiri McGrew 4-17, Surreal Garrett 3-18, Malone 2-18, Cam Manahan 1-2. Midlothian, Jackson 2-47.

RECORDS: Coronado 7-5; Midlothian 8-4.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Coronado football season encapsulated in playoff loss to Midlothian