By David Hoffman
CoachesAid.com Nevada Content Coordinator
If defense truly wins championships then the Longhorns of Legacy High School might be headed for a ring fitting. Legacy's defense rose to the occasion and kept what had been a dominant Palo Verde running attack out of the end zone en route to a 7-6 win one their home field.
Legacy Sophomore L.J. McMorris bursts for ten of his team high 87 yards during the Longhorns huge 7-6 win over Palo Verde. (Image courtesy of NOS Prep Sports)
"There is no question this is the biggest win in the history of the school," aid Longhorn coach Dave Snyder following the game,"the kids worked so hard and left their hearts on the field." Granted the school just opened in 2006, but this was the first win over Palo and the team also defeated Cimarron for the first time earlier this year.
It didn't start off well for Legacy,s they missed out on a scoring opportunity early in the game thanks to some penalties and one big turnover. A turnover that lead to the Panthers only score.
After a Longhorn fumble was recovered in the end zone by Panther DE Dillon Chaisson, Palo took a lead they would hold until 4:12 left in the game. It would also be the only touchdown they would score. Had anyone told Snyder before the game his charges would keep the Panther offense out of the end zone he would have probably laughed at the mere thought.
After all this was a Panther team that has run roughshod over its opponents all year. Just not this time. Legacy's defense, led by linebacker William Purcell, kept the Panther backs running for their lives all night. The trio of Panther running backs (Brandon Wright, Chappelle Thomas and Tyrone Blake) were held to a combined 150 yards. In fact, the Panthers only had three runs of 10 yards or more in the game. This from a team that routinely has backs break away for numerous long scoring plays in every game. You don't average 48 points per game and get held to the big doughnut without facing a defense of considerable resolve.
"We were ready to hit them," said Purcell, "and after a while they just were tired of getting hit."
Fans of the Longorns were no doubt feeling less than optimistic when star running back Deshae Edwards left the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury. At the time Edwards had run for 79 yards and gone over the 1,000 yard mark (1,071) for the year.
Enter sophomore running back L.J McMorris who promptly carried the Longhorn offense on his back, rushing for 87 yards on only 15 carries including a nine yard scamper that tied the game with only that 4:12 left to play. Andres Ortiz came on to nail the extra point that sent the Longhorn faithful hopes sky high.
"I was a bit afraid to put him into a game this huge," said Snyder of McMorris, "but he did what good backs do, he upped his game."
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