Yoemen fall to Lago Vista in triple overtime

_{The Cameron Yoemen lost the season opener in thrilling fashion with a triple overtime heartbreaker last Friday night at Yoe Field.}

_{They fell to the Lago Vista Vikings in a 64-62 heartbreaker in triple overtime.} 

_{Cameron kicked off to start the game and allowed an early 15-yard quarterback run on the first drive. Lago Vista had a touchdown in the end zone on a long fourth down throw but fortunately for Cameron the touchdown was taken back on a chop block penalty.} 

_{This caused the Vikings to have to punt the ball back to Cameron. The Yoemen didn’t do much better on their possession as the Vikings forced a three and out on the first drive for Cameron.} 

_{The Vikings roared back on offense as they scored on a 36-yard touchdown pass for Lago Vista on another fourth down conversion attempt. They attempted a two-point conversion but failed on the conversion attempt to keep the score at 6-0.} 

_{Cameron continued their struggles on offense as they couldn’t move the ball on their second series and had to punt. Lago Vista kept rolling with a 26-yard first down on a run pass option play to put them at the 2-yard line. This would lead to a 2-yard touchdown run by Lago Vista for a 13-0 deficit.} 

_{The Yoemen finally started to come to life as they would get their first score on an exciting kickoff return for a touchdown by Pharrell Hemphill (4) for 90 yards to make it a 13-7 game.} 

_{That big play seemed to spark the Yoemen defense as Cameron then forced a three and out. The offense seemed to feed off that touchdown too as they got a big run by Phaibian Bynaum (5) aided by face mask penalty. That would be it for the quarter as Cameron trailed the first quarter 13-7.}

_{The Yoemen would get the first points of the second quarter off of a 38-yard field goal by Jesse Martinez (11) for a 13-10 game.} 

_{Cameron’s defense came up big on third down with a big play by the defense on a 7-yard sack aided by a fumbled snap by the Lago Vista quarterback, which would force them to punt. Cameron would take their first lead of the game on a thrilling 26-yard touchdown run by Bynaum to make the score 17-13. Unfortunately, they gave the lead right back on a kickoff return by Lago Vista for a touchdown to make the score of 19-17 in part of another failed two point conversion.} 

_{Cameron could not answer back with a score as they fumbled the ball on third down that would be recovered by Lago Vista. Later that drive Cameron gave up a touchdown on the 2-yard line for a 27-17 game with a 2 point conversion completed by the Vikings. The score going into halftime would stay at 27-17.}

_{The second half started with a bang for the Yoemen with an incredible 75-yard touchdown kickoff return for Cameron to start the second half by Hemphill for 27-24 game and his second kick return touchdown of the day.} 

_{Back on defense, the Yoemen allowed a big pass play but a forced a fumble and was recovered by Quori Hardman (30). This would shortly be followed up by a spectacular 88-yard touchdown run by Bynaum for a 31-27 lead. Later in the third quarter, Cameron gave up a big pass play by Lago Vista to put them on the 28-yard line, and later allowed a 17-yard touchdown for a 34-31 game with Lago Vista leading. The Yoemen would respond with a 68-yard touchdown pass caught by Trayjen Wilcox (88) for a 38-34 lead.} 

_{“We have been improving on offense every day and fortunately, our offense took a big step forward in the second half of the game last Friday,” Coach Rick Rhoades said. “We were able to execute our running game more effectively and that opened up our vertical passing game.”} 

_{They would keep the lead at the end of the third quarter 38-34.}

_{Early in the fourth quarter, Cameron failed at a fourth and seven inside the 20 yard line for a turnover. This unfortunately led to a Lago Vista touchdown on the next drive for a 41-38 game. Later in the quarter, as Cameron was punting the ball, they recovered a live punt at the 10 yard line around the five minute mark. This would lead to a touchdown by Kason Goolsby (3) on a skillful catch and run for a 45-41 lead. The lead would shift again as the Yoemen allowed a touchdown run for a 47-45 game.} 

_{“I don’t know that Lago was doing anything to keep our defense off balance, we just had some breakdowns in coverage responsibilities and as a result of that, we gave up some big plays,” Rhoades said.} 

_{Fortunately, the Yoemen special teams came through again and blocked the extra point and Hardman ran it back for a two point score to tie the game. Later in the quarter, Ryan Muniz (7) threw a 37-yard touchdown pass by caught by Hemphill to put them at the 2 yard line with less than a minute left in the game. Martinez missed the game winning field goal and the game would go to overtime.} 

_{The Yoemen allowed a touchdown pass on a third and 20 for a 54-47 game. Their offense responded with a 9-yard quarterback touchdown run by Muniz to make 54-54, followed by an 18-yard touchdown run by Fabian Salomon (35) for a 60-54 lead. The two point conversion was completed by Muniz on a quarterback scramble to make the score 62-54.} 

_{The Vikings responded with a 25-yard touchdown pass and a two-point conversion to tie the game at 62. Lago Vista then scored on a two-point play.} 

_{Cameron couldn’t answer back and would lose 64-62.} 

_{Cameron’s next opponent will be on the road against the Bellville Brahmas. Rhoades believes his team needs to stay consistent on offense and make fewer mistakes on the defensive side of the ball.} 

_{“On offense, we want to continue to improve and be more consistent,” he said. “On defense, we have to do a better job of eliminating big plays.”} 

_{The game is scheduled for Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Bellville.}