What seemed like a Homecoming miracle turned into a nightmare for the Durant Lions (0-2) as they fell to the Ardmore Tigers (1-1), 27-12.
Durant’s running game came alive Friday night against Ardmore. Dakota “The Diesel” Diessner had a productive night, pounding the rock for 114 yards and a touchdown and turned a broken play on fourth down into a first down. He was also dinged up in the game, but he came back on the field and didn’t miss a beat. Durant finished with a total of 138 rushing yards.
“Dakota is one of the toughest young men I’ve ever coached. We were afraid he was done, maybe for the year. Next thing I know, he’s ready to go two plays later. I can’t say enough about him and the effort he gave tonight.” said Durant’s head coach Bryon Cordell.
QB Zac Cater went 10-for-24 with 103 yards passing, a touchdown down pass and two picks. Cater was sacked twice, hurried and harassed throughout the game. WR Blake Wilson had two catches for 38 yards and a touchdown.
Durant’s defense contained the Tigers running game for the most part. Ardmore only attempted six passes on the night and completed only one and held the Tigers to six points in the first half.
However, with the game still in reach in the fourth quarter, the Tigers got two rushing TD’s and finished with 271 rushing yards.
“Well, it was a tough loss. We had our chances early and had two red-zone opportunities and didn’t score and that will always come back to bite’cha, and that’s on us,” said Cordell, “We got to find away to get into the end zone.”
It was a back-and-fourth game and scoreless until the second quarter.
Durant faced a fourth and four at their own 17 yard line. But gusty winds kept Durant’s punt hanging in the air and dropped at the Lions 22 yard. It put the defense in a tough situation. It took the Tigers only three plays to score a TD, but missed the extra point. Ardmore led 6-0 with 7:48 left in the half.
Durant bounced back and scored with seven seconds on the clock. The Lions took an 8 play drive, that lasted 2:47 and scored a TD before the half. With time ticking down, Durant was on Ardmore’s 14 yard line. Then Cater made a perfect pass to Wilson in between three Tigers in the end zone for the score. Durant missed the extra point and the game was tied 6-6 at the half.
Ardmore would break the tie in the third quarter when they drove down the field in nine plays, that lasted 4:12, for a score. Ardmore finished off the drive with a 41 yard TD run that put them up 13-6.
But the Lions didn’t give up, they answered with a seven play drive that went 45 yards. Durant was eyeing the end zone with a 1st and goal at Ardmore’s 5 yard line. Diessner would take a pitch out to the right. Just as he was going in for the score a Tiger laid a hard hit on Diessner, but he spun off the tackle and fought through another tackle for Durant’s last score of the night. The Lions trailed 13-12 headed into the fourth quarter.
“Our practice this week for Ardmore, it was hot, but it wasn’t so great and that’s kinda how you play,” said Cordell, “You play like you practice.”
Ardmore would score two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter to finish off the game.
The Durant Lions will be going on a road trip to play Ada Cougars next Friday. Kick-off is at 7:30 p.m.
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