Although there was considerable improvement from Game 1, especially in the passing game, it wasn’t quite enough to deliver a victory as the Durant Lions dropped a 26-23 decision to Broken Bow on the road last week.
The Lions will look to notch their initial win Friday in their final nondistrict outing of the season when they host Gravette, Arkansas, for a 7 p.m. Homecoming tilt at Paul Laird Field.
Trailing by just three points, Durant was driving for a potential closing score but a career-long 46yard field goal try by Otto Baskin with just under two minutes remaining came up short and the host Savages ran out the clock from there.
While Durant struggled to get much running game going, senior quarterback Cole Robbins strung together the best passing performance of his career by completing 16 of 24 attempts for 271 yards and three touchdowns.
For the second straight week, however, it took a while for the Lion offense to get rolling as they threw an interception on a trick play attempt on the opening series when Kacin Mazey’s toss to Robbins was picked off.
Broken Bow capitalized on tremendous field position late in the first stanza, covering 33 yards in five plays for a Greydon Howell 10--yard scoring run.
A 25-yard strike from Robbins to Aiden Polk got the Durant offense kick started on the next series. That eventually set up a 35-yard scoring play on a hook-and-lateral from Robbins to Holdan Robinson to Stephen Manhard, who rumbled the final 20 yards to paydirt early in the second frame.
The Savages threatened again with a drive deep into the red zone but were turned away empty on a DHS defense goal line stand. The hosts cashed in on the next drive though after taking over in Durant territory with Howell tossing a five-yard touchdown pass for a 13-7 edge with 2:26 left in the half.
All that did was set off a scoring frenzy with two more touchdowns and a field goal before the halftime break.
Durant hit the first when Robbins found Joseph Flores over the middle for a 67-yard scoring pass but Howell zipped the hosts right back down the field 80 yards in only four plays for a nine-yard touchdown pass. The junior signal-caller ran for 20 yards and threw for 60 on three consecutive completions.
That score came at the 1:17 mark, leaving Durant time and the Lions cashed in thanks to a pair of major Broken Bow penalties. Baskin hit a 33-yard field on the final play of the quarter to narrow the gap to 19-16 at intermission.
It turned into a defensive slugfest again in the third period, but the Lions were able to cash in another deep pass with a 74-yard touchdown from Robbins to Mazey with only 7:09 remaining. That made it 23-19 Durant but was short-lived.
Broken Bow immediately answered with Howell pulling an improbable escape on fourth down and racing 24 yards to go back in front at the 5:45 mark.
The Lions methodically moved down field attempting to answer but stalled at the Bow 30 to lead to the final field goal attempt.
Flores snagged three passes for 94 yards and Mazey added two for 89. Robinson had four receptions for 33 yards.
Durant will face off against a Gravette squad Friday that is coming off a pair of solid victories against Pea Ridge, Arkansas and Jay, Oklahoma and most impressively has allowed a total of 12 points in those contests.
The Lions from northwest Arkansas have shown a versatile offensive attack thanks to the emergence of J.D. Beem in the backfield after starring as a receiver a year ago. He has rushed for 231 yards this season and five touchdowns.
Senior quarterback Cameron Bedwell threw for 213 yards in the season opener and a total of 294 for the season with junior Gage Bottorff being his top target.
