SPRINGFIELD- The La Veta Redskins’ vision of a state championship faded last Saturday afternoon as the Longhorns of Springfield defeated the Skins 32-22. The loss eliminated the Redskins from advancing to the Great Eight.
The Horns got on the boards first with a 3-yard touchdown run. The point after failed and Springfield took a 6-0 lead. La Veta came right back when Jared Ray took the ensuing kick-off 88 yards for the score. After the two-point conversion, the Skins led 8-6. Nearing the end of the first quarter, La Veta turned the ball over deep in their territory, and the Longhorns capitalized with their second touchdown of the quarter for a 12-8 lead.
Springfield scored again midway in the second with a 22-yard field goal. Quarterback Ron Ortivez orchestrated a drive of his own, capped off with a 10-yard touchdown run and the 16-15 lead with one minute left in the half. Their lead was short lived as the Longhorns found the end zone off a 29-yard pass as time expired on the clock.
The second half was a defensive struggle as both teams had trouble executing any substantial drives. The Longhorns were able to get behind the Redskin defenders for a 52-yard pass play which ultimately sealed the victory. Ortivez found the end zone one more time for a 5-yard score, but it was too little, too late. As the final horn sounded, the Skins were eliminated from further play.
Ortivez was the leading rusher with 82 yards. Trey Price struggled with only 29 yards on nine carries. Turnovers plagued La Veta on Saturday which gave the Longhorns a short field to work with and more scoring opportunities.
