SAN ANGELO, TX — Win or lose, the Lake View Chiefs football team has put on a show for its fans each time it has played at San Angelo Stadium this year.
Both of the Chiefs’ wins were at home, and the two games they lost in San Angelo were last-minute thrillers, including last week’s 45-37 overtime loss to Pecos.
Lake View (2-6) will play in front of its home fans one last time this year when it hosts Big Spring (3-5) at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Both teams lost their district opener last week, so the loser of this matchup will fall into fourth place in District 3-4A Division I.
Even though all four teams in the district are already assured of a playoff berth, the district’s fourth-place team will likely draw No. 4-ranked Stephenville in the first round of the playoffs.
So there’s plenty of motivation to avoid that.
“We have to maintain ball control offensively and score some points, because we know Big Spring’s going to score,” Lake View head coach Hector Guevara said. “And we have to not give up a big play here and there. That’s the main thing.”
Lake View had a back-and-forth contest with Pecos last week, and the Chiefs led 15-14 at halftime and 28-21 at the end of the third quarter.
After falling behind late, Lake View drove for a 41-yard field goal by Izaiah Rios in the closing seconds.
“I had confidence,” Guevara said. “I figured if we got to the 40-yard line, we had a chance.”
Pecos scored first in OT, and Lake View was unable to answer, though the Chiefs had an unlucky finish when one of their receivers collided with a referee in the end zone on the final play of the game.
Lake View was without running back Sammy Ramirez and offensive lineman Trey Henry due to injury.
The Chiefs’ offense, which is averaging 31 points per game, still had plenty of firepower.
Sophomore quarterback Chris Alvizo was 17-of-26 passing for 279 yards and three TDs with one interception.
Braylon White had eight catches for 116 yards and a TD, Cristian Esparza had four catches for 99 yards and a TD, and Francisco Ramirez had three catches for 50 yards and a TD.
In addition to his clutch field goal, Rios also had 14 carries for 96 yards and a TD.
“Our kids stepped up, so we’re very, very excited for the kids doing that,” Guevara said.
Big Spring has beaten Lake View the last two times they’ve played, including a 63-43 win last year.
The Steers are coming off a 71-14 shellacking against Andrews last week.
Lake View will close out the regular season next week at Andrews, while Big Spring will host Pecos.
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