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Early playoffs: Lobos close season with two must-win games
BY Chris O’Dell, codell@starlocalnews.com
There might be two regular season games remaining for all District 9-4A teams, but the Lobos have begun their playoff run a few weeks early.
That’s because Little Elm (3-5, 2-3) finds itself in a must-win situation for the final two games of the season against Frisco Wakeland and The Colony. A loss tonight eliminates the Lobos from postseason contention while a win keeps the team alive in the fight for the fourth playoff spot from 9-4A.
“When there is something at stake, our kids normally bring their A game,” said Donald Stowers, Little Elm head coach. “We have to feel encouraged by that.”
“It was a game we should have won by a couple of touchdowns,” Stowers said. “We beat [Prosper] in most statistical categories.”
Senior running back Keaun Kinner was a majority of Little Elm’s offense in the game, running for 332 yards and four touchdowns on 55 carries.
“[Kinner] has been our bell cow this year,” Stowers said. “He’s a phenomenal running back and one of the best I’ve ever been around.”
Kinner uncharacteristically coughed up two balls during long Little Elm drives that contributed to half of the team’s fumbles in the game. Stowers said his senior running back losing the ball on occasion shouldn’t come as a surprise with the high number of carries he gets.
“That’s to be expected with someone having 55 carries in a game,” he said. “That’s a lot to ask from someone.”
Senior quarterback Devante’ Pullum, who also lost one fumble in the game, is still overcoming an injury to his hip flexor that was sustained during the preseason. Stowers said his quarterback is around 85 percent right now.
“[Pullum] isn’t quite there yet,” he. “He’s getting better and better every week.”
The Lobos will now look to rebound from Friday’s unfortunate loss to Prosper by defending their home field against the Wolverines tonight. Wakeland (6-2, 3-2) enters the game in the final playoff spot from the district and is coming off a 21-14 victory over The Colony last week.
“We will definitely have a challenge on our hands,” Stowers said. “[Junior quarterback Jackson Lamb] is pretty accurate and they have a couple of receivers putting up big numbers.”
With fumbles dooming the Lobos in their 31-27 loss to Prosper, Stowers said his team’s effort in that game should be enough to get back into the win column this week.
“If we can go out and duplicate that effort, we should be fine,” he said. “The kids’ effort was great. We just had some misfortunes that game.”
The crucial district showdown will kick off at 7 p.m. tonight from the Little Elm Athletic Complex.
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