PHOTOS BY RICHARD AKRIDGE Senior Brandon Abbott hauls in a touchdown pass from Vann Millican midway through the first quarter. The 52-yard score was the first of seven consecutive touchdown-producing possessions for the Badgers. After sitting on the outside for so many years, the Badgers have finally invited themselves to the party.

Thanks to a dominating 47-20 victory over Hutto Friday night, for the first time since 2000, Lampasas has earned a playoff slot and all the jubilation that goes with it.

“It was an awesome time,” head coach Joey McQueen said of the postseason-clinching victory. “I’m so proud for these kids and for my staff and for the community because [they’ve all] done some good things.

“We proved that hard work can pay off.”

With Lampasas and Hutto holding identical 2-3 district records entering the regular-season finale, the Badgers ran over the Hippos by scoring touchdowns on each of their first seven possessions, including a pair of uncharacteristic passing touchdowns that opened the floodgates.

Justin Taylor, 62, delivers a ball-jarring hit to Hutto quarterback Alondre Thorn. “We looked like a passing team,” a drenched McQueen said after being doused with water at the conclusion of the game. “The line did a great job tonight, and our backs were [solid]. Everything just fell into place.”

The Badgers now turn their attention to keeping the good times rolling, as they head to Georgetown High School Friday night for a bi-district showdown with District 26-4A champion Austin McCallum. Start time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

If Lampasas’ offense continues to perform like it did against Hutto, the Badgers might extend their season even further.

After forcing the Hippos to punt away their first possession, the Badgers’ offense pushed its way to midfield on five consecutive runs before quarterback Vann Millican found Brandon Abbott for a 52- yard touchdown. It was just the Badgers’ second offensive score of the year through the air.

After a Hippo touchdown tied the game, Lampasas began another methodical drive that lasted 11 plays before Millican unleashed his second touchdown pass of the evening. He found Aaron Reyna, who dived into the end zone to give the Badgers a lead they would not relinquish.

“Vann has been doing a great job,” McQueen said. “[Hutto was covering us] so tight, so the first one was a bomb. The second one was just a great pass to Reyna.”

Lampasas added to its lead when Brode DuBose scored on a twoyard touchdown run with 59 seconds remaining in the half.

After catching their wind during halftime, the Badgers proceeded to knock the air out of Hutto.

Reyna opened the second half by racing down the right sideline 95 yards off the kickoff to give Lampasas a 20-point advantage.

Two snaps later, Justin Taylor delivered a blindsided hit to Hippos’ quarterback Alondre Thorn, who fumbled the ball and gave the Badgers possession at the Hutto 21-yard line.

“We big-numbered him from the back side, and he puked it up,” defensive coordinator Jimmy Randolph said.

Less than three minutes later, Edward Hall scored his first of two touchdowns on a seven-yard run to put Lampasas ahead 34-7. Hall finished with a team-high 119 yards on 23 carries.

“We ran the kickoff back, and then we crunched [Thorn] and, pretty much, they were done,” Randolph said. “They couldn’t catch us then.”

DuBose would find the end zone for a second time with 1:24 left in the third quarter before Millican completed his third pass attempt of the game on the next Lampasas drive. The senior quarterback found Astin Murray for a 24-yard gain. Four plays later, Hall posted his second score of the game.

Behind Hall and DuBose, the Badgers ran for 262 of their 351 total yards of offense. DuBose ran for 118 yards on 21 carries.

While the offense moved the ball, the defense kept the opposition in check, limiting Hutto to just seven points through the first 29 minutes. The Hippos came into the game averaging 30.6 points per game in district competition.

“I was tickled to death,” Randolph said. “That’s the best we’ve played defensively all year. That’s the best we’ve played defensively in the time I’ve been here.

“To come from the rock bottom [at 0-20] to this situation, it’s phenomenal.”

Middle linebacker Rush Seaver led the team with eight solo tackles, and he assisted on three more. Taylor and Carter Burks each assisted on eight tackles, while Evan Strickland finished with seven solos, five assists and a fumble recovery.

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Both of the Badgers’ subvarsity squads finished the season with four-game winning streaks after knocking off Hutto in the season finales.

The freshmen (5-5) won by 21 points, 28-7, at home, while the junior varsity (9-1) claimed a 22- 14 road victory.

Quarterback Brandon Scott recorded a pair of touchdowns for the junior varsity, and Ray Galbraith posted two scores to go with a forced fumble and recovery in the freshmen’s win.

Game Stats

Scoring Summary

HHS — Joel Rothrock two-yard run (Michael Cottingham kick) Second Quarter LHS — Millican 13-yard pass to Aaron Reyna (Shaughnessy kick)

LHS — Brode DuBose 10-yard run (Shaughnessy kick) Third Quarter LHS — Reyna 95-yard kickoff return LHS — Hall seven-yard run (Shaughnessy kick)

HHS — Alondre Thorn 70-yard pass to Alex Aday LHS — DuBose two-yard run Fourth Quarter LHS — Hall five-yard run (Shaughnessy kick)

HHS — Thorn 29-yard run (Cottingham kick)

Team Stats

Individual Stats

Rushing — LHS: Hall 23-119, DuBose 21-118, Tanner Mobley 3-8, Gabe Terrell 3-8, Ronnie Branch 1-6, Reyna 2-3. HHS: Thorn 19-121, Darrin Allen 6-21, Rothrock 5-14, Keaton Knapp 1- 7, Demetrius Wilson 1-1, Trevor Hayes 1- -5.

Passing — LHS: Millican 3-3-0-89. HHS: Thorn 5-10-0-181, Wilson 0-2-0- 0, Nehemiah Hicks 0-1-0-0.

Receiving — LHS: Abbott 1-52, Astin Murray 1-24, Reyna 1-13. HHS: Aday 1-70, Hayes 1-63, Knapp 2-28, Rothrock 1-20. Missed field goals — NONE