PHOTOS BY CHERI JAY-WIENECKE Lometa Hornet Charlie Wagner isn't lying down on the job. He is working to bring down a Calvert runner who is headed for the goal line. Lometa is the exception to the rule. The Hornets are actually glad they are not playing this weekend.

Lometa is one of just a handful of teams to receive an opening-round bye in the state playoffs this week.

Despite losing to district rival Calvert 79-54 last Friday, the Hornets still have an opportunity to earn a state championship if they can find a way to win four more games, starting next week with the winner between No. 9 Abbott and Trinidad.

Last year, the Hornets were in the same position after taking the district’s runner-up spot following a loss to Calvert. Lometa found itself facing Abbott and lost 56-22 in the regional round.

Although Lometa (8-2, 2-1 district) still has plenty left to achieve -- and a little revenge it would like to dish out to the Panthers — the team’s season-long goal of winning the district crown was ruined by the Trojans.

Hornet Dalton Parsons soars above the competition as he hurdles a Calvert defender in last week's Lometa loss to Calvert. The Hornets are waiting to discover who the team will face in next week's round of the playoffs, as they will square off against Abbott or Trinidad. Calvert (10-0, 3-0 district) jumped out to a 12-point advantage in last week’s regular season-finale, before the Hornets trimmed the visitors’ margin to four points at 12-8.

The Hornets could get no closer though, as the Trojans exploded for 32 points in the quarter and constructed a 20-point barrier at 44-24 by halftime.

The squads played fairly evenly for the remainder of the contest, but the second-quarter damage could not be repaired, and Calvert celebrated on Lometa’s field.

The Trojans rolled for 506 yards of total offense and a whopping 148 kickoff return yards in the game. The Hornets posted only 22 return yards with the longest being a 10-yard scamper by Manuel Hernandez.

With just 15 running plays in the entire game for Lometa, the Hornets tallied an even 400 yards through the air. Charlie Wagner was the team’s top passer, connecting on 18 of 28 attempts for 285 yards and four touchdowns.

Dalton Parsons, who recently had a cast removed from his throw- ing arm, saw his first action under center in several weeks, throwing the ball 25 times. He completed nine passes for 115 yards and a score.

Although Felipe Nava was the big-play producer, Cody Brister was the quarterbacks’ favorite target. Nava caught four passes for 124 yards and three touchdowns, while Brister hauled in eight catches for 112 yards and one score. Colt Maldonado (4 catches, 73 yards) also found the end zone for Lometa.

The three receivers combined for all five passing touchdowns and all but 91 of the passing yards.

Positioned all over the field during the contest, Parsons caught five passes for 43 yards and also posted a team-high 38 rushing yards on eight carries, including a touchdown.

Defensively, Parsons was one of five Hornets to finish with at least five tackles.

Wagner and Scott Hernandez led the team with 10 tackles apiece, with Juan Moreno and Parsons recording eight each. Chris Scarborough was responsible for six tackles.

Like Lometa, Calvert also will be off during the bi-district round of the playoffs. The Trojans will face the winner between Milford and Penelope.

If Calvert and Lometa both advance, they will find themselves in a rematch of the season finale with the winner moving on to face the lone team remaining from Region 3 in the semi-finals.

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Lometa’s junior varsity team recently suffered a 20-14 loss to Austin Christian at home.

The Hornets trailed by 12 points, 20-8, at halftime but despite holding their opponents scoreless for the remainder of the contest, they could not produce enough offense to win the game.

Quarterback Eric Nichols led the team with 94 yards and a touchdown on five-of-10 passing. Shane Stone was the Hornets’ top receiver with two catches for 65 yards and a score.

Albert Hernandez ran for a teamhigh 58 yards, but Jose Hernandez was responsible for the team’s lone rushing score.