PHOTOS BY RICHARD AKRIDGE Tail back Edward Hall records one of his four touchdowns against Gatesville. The senior accounted for 272 yards of total offense. The Badgers did everything they could to win the game, but it wasn't enough.

Despite posting season highs of 48 points and 545 yards of offense, Lampasas fell to the visiting Gatesville Hornets Friday night by a single point, 49-48.

The Badgers and Hornets traded touchdowns all evening long, and it appeared Lampasas struck the final blow when senior running back Brode DuBose capped off a seven-play drive with a one-yard scoring run up the middle to give Lampasas a 48-41 advantage.

But, with 2:57 remaining in the game, Gatesville began marching 82 yards down the field and pulled within one point when quarterback Jake Truss found senior receiver Dominique Moore in the right corner of the end zone.

Instead of settling for a tie and taking the contest into overtime, the Hornets decided to attempt a two-point conversion with 23 seconds left on the clock. The decision paid off, as Truss located his favorite target of the evening Ross Wallace who crossed the goal line and put Gatesville on top at 49-48.

Lampasas had one final opportunity to accumulate points but could not mount the comeback as quarterback Colton Perkins threw an interception, and the Hornets ran out the remaining seconds on the clock.

"I don't like shootouts," Badgers head coach Joey McQueen said. "I knew that was going to happen."

The back-and-forth affair almost went the coach's way, however, as senior tail back Edward Hall ran for 245 yards and four touchdowns. He shared the backfield with fullback DuBose.

"What helped us was that [defensive coordinator Jimmy] Randolph gave up Edward on defense because if we didn't have him on offense, it wasn't going to matter," McQueen said. "He knew that, and I knew that."

While Hall churned up the yards offensively, his full-time presence at linebacker was missed, although he recorded three solo tackles and assisted on five more.

The Hornets (3-1) finished the evening with 429 yards of offense, including 345 through the air. Truss and Wallace teamed up for 225 yards and three touchdowns on 13 completions.

"They've been a great combination for a long time," Gatesville head coach Kyle Cooper said. "I'm extremely proud of them. They work hard to do what they do."

While the Hornets did their damage through the air, the Badgers continued to pound the ball, gaining 518 yards on the ground.

"We had well over 60 snaps tonight, and I'm very proud of that [because] that was one of our goals," McQueen said. "For the kids, I wish they would have won, but they didn't, and that's just what happens."

In addition to Hall's big night, DuBose totaled 147 yards and two touchdowns. Aaron Reyna finished with 98 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown run.

"Our offensive line did great," McQueen said. "Our offense did an outstanding job."

The Badgers also completed their first pass of the season, a 27-yard connection between Perkins and Hall.

Lampasas' kicking game continued to struggle, however, as the Badgers missed two extra points. One was blocked, and the other never had a chance as the snap was bobbled.

"That hurt us," McQueen said.

The Badgers (1-3) held a onepoint advantage at halftime, 20-19, and did not relinquish the lead until Gatesville went up 34-33 early in the fourth quarter.

Lampasas needed just four plays to reclaim the lead on a 53-yard touchdown run from Hall. Ronnie Branch ran in the two-point conversion to put the home team ahead 41-34.

The Hornets quickly responded with a three-play, 61-yard drive to tie the contest.

DuBose ended the next drive with his one-yard scoring run, setting the stage for Gatesville's dramatic comeback.

After blowing out the Badgers 34-0 last season, the overall improvements were clear to Cooper.

"Joey McQueen is an outstanding football coach, and obviously there is a huge difference from last year's team to this year's team," the Hornets coach said. "I'm happy for him and proud of him for what he's got going, and I wish him the best."

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The Badgers' JV team easily defeated Gatesville 54-20 behind a solid offensive line.

Lampasas was led by Justin Maldonado who recorded three touchdowns.

Secody Howard, Brandon Scott and Tanner Swinford also chipped in scores.

The freshman team fell 8-0 despite a solid offensive performance from Ray Galbraith. John Cole Vann led the Badgers in tackles on defense.

Game Stats

Scoring Summary

GHS — Jake Truss 20-yard pass to Dominique Moore (Truss kick) Second Quarter GHS — Truss 34-yard pass to Ross Wallace LHS — Brode DuBose 14-yard run GHS — Truss 12-yard pass to Wallace LHS — Hall 6-yard run (Perkins kick) Third Quarter LHS — Hall 9-yard run (Perkins kick) GHS — Truss 23-yard pass to Wallace (Truss 3-yard pass to Garrett Johnson) LHS — Aaron Reyna 75-yard run Fourth Quarter GHS — Truss 31-yard pass to Johnson (Truss kick)

LHS — Hall 53-yard run (Ronnie Branch 3-yard run) GHS — Truss 23-yard run (Truss kick) LHS — DuBose 1-yard run (Perkins kick)

GHS — Truss 35-yard pass to Moore (Truss 3-yard pass to Wallace)

Team Stats

Individual Stats

Rushing — LHS: Hall 23-245, DuBose 29-147, Reyna 4-98, Branch 2-15, Josh Woods 3-13, Colton Perkins 2-0. GHS — Cody Navarro 10-34, Truss 7- 26, Caleb Pratt 2-17, Garrett Featherston 2-5, Dexter Knox 1-2, Cole Edmiston 1-0.

Passing — LHS: Perkins 1-3-1-27. GHS: Truss 23-31-0-345.

Receiving — LHS: Hall 1-27. GHS: Wallace 13-225, Moore 4-63, Johnson 2-34, Nardi Meyers 2-15, Knox 2-8. Missed field goals — NONE.