Steers blank Buckeyes in second half, fall short of making state title game

All seemed lost with a 35-7 halftime deficit. Quarterback Brandon Tennison was having his way with the Steers’ defense while the offense struggled to find the end zone. The Steers ran out for the second half to go down swinging at their season came to an end with a 35-21 loss to Gilmer in the state semifinal Friday night in Prosper.

The Steers’ offense struggled early moving the ball when tasked with the size and athleticism boasted from the Buckeyes. Back-to-back three-and-outs quickly became a 14-0 deficit after Tennison found Dylan Fluellen for a 45-yard touchdown pass on the Buckeye’s first possession and a 95-yard punt return for a score by Rohan Fluellen.

Faced with their biggest deficit of the season, the Steers offense found some brief momentum on their third drive of the game. Following Gilmer’s punt return for a touchdown, JJ Lee returned the ensuing kickoff to the Steers’ 35-yard-line. After advancing the ball 20 yards to the Buckeyes’ 45-yard-line, Hunter Lanham found Tre Alveraz in the middle who took the ball to the end zone for the Steers’ first score of the game.

For a complete game story see the Wednesday, Dec. 16 edition of The Graham Leader.