The 7th Grade Mavericks traveled to South Campus yesterday and squared off with the SFL Shamrocks. For the second time in as many weeks, the Mavericks started with the ball and efficiently moved their way down the field for a quick TD on a Julian Peavy 7 yard score. Wheeler Gibson got the Mavs inside the 10 with a seemingly endless 40 yard run, leaving a number of would-be Shamrock tacklers in his wake. Tackles Cam Cook and Alden Arnold, and FB Rob Wallace opened gaping holes as the Mavericks blasted down the field. The Shamrock offense responded with its own long drive, but the Mav defense held on the PAT and led 8-6.  After stopping the Mavericks, the SFL boys found the endzone again and took a 12-8 lead. The Maverick offense went back to work and scored its second TD as Augie Avery sealed the outside with a perfect down-field block and Peavy took a toss sweep and sped 50 yards down the Maverick sideline. The Mavericks tacked on the PAT for a 16-12 lead. Again, the SFL boys responded with a TD of their own and pulled ahead just before halftime, 18-16. The third quarter was all Shamrocks, as they ran the opening kickoff back for a score and followed that with a long run from scrimmage a few minutes later. Peter Stone provided a defensive highlight with an interception on the PAT. Down but not out, the Mavericks entered the 4th quarter with the ball and trailing 30-16. The Shamrock defense took away the outside with linebacker blitzes on nearly every play, so the Mavericks took advantage of the aggressive defense and, led by center Henry Morris and pulling guards, Andy Huff and Greg Estrera, countered their way down the field before QB Byrn Ledbetter took an inside counter in for the score. Behind 30-22 with just over 4 minutes left, the Mavericks nearly covered a well-executed onside kick. The defense, led by Jax Murphy, stepped up and forced a turnover on downs, stopping the Shamrocks on 4th and 4. The Mavericks took over with two minutes left to play, no timeouts and 75 yards and 11 Shamrocks between them and the score. After a holding penalty backed up the offense even farther, the Shamrock safety sealed the game with an interception.

The Mavericks showed a lot of grit in their third game of the season, and now it's back to the fundamentals as they prepare for a match-up with the St. Francis Wolves next Tuesday at Skip Lee Field.