Julian DelaCruz prepares to take a hit. The Badgers’ scrimmages continue to come down to the wire.

One week after giving up a lastsecond, score-tying touchdown to Smithville during the live-quarter portion of the scrimmage, Lampasas witnessed another opponent produce a late surge to score in the final moments.

This time, however, the Badgers survived the scare.

With under 10 seconds remaining in the live quarter and Lampasas leading 14-7, Waco Connally’s quarterback avoided several tackles before hurling the ball down field for a touchdown.

“[Linebacker] Layton Irvin goes in and hits him, knocks him off balance, but he stays up. Then Joey Burks misses him, he gets hit again, and then he throws a Doug Flutie ‘Hail Mary’ pass,” said Joey McQueen, Badgers’ head coach. “[Corner back] Brandon Scott falls down, and they score.”

Then the Cadets’ luck ran out.

Actually, the team’s Doug Flutie moment turned into a self-imposed disaster, as Connally’s touchdown celebration was ruled excessive by the officials, and the Cadets were forced to kick a 35-yard extra point.

They missed, and the Badgers escaped with a 14-13 victory.

Last minute excluded, McQueen was excited about his team’s overall performance that also included a 2-2 tie in the controlled scrimmage.

“We really made some good things happen,” the coach said. “I’m really proud of the defense. They are young, and they make some mistakes, but they really swarm to the football.

“It was a great scrimmage.”

With the regular-season kickoff looming, the Badgers hope to be done with the down-to-the-wire finishes.

In fact, they plan to defeat Manor soundly on opening night.

Left: Badgers’ receiver Alan Figurski secures the go-ahead touchdown pass from Brandon Scott during Lampasas’ 14- 13 win over Manor during the live quarter of the teams’ scrimmage. Above: Scott prepares to pitch the ball to a teammate. PHOTOS BY RICHARD AKRIDGE And it appears the Mustangs could be aiding Lampasas’ efforts.

While members of the Badgers’ coaching staff were on hand to watch both of Manor’s scrimmages, the Mustangs did not attend either of Lampasas’ preseason contests.

“They didn’t come to watch us, so that tells me they don’t care about us,” McQueen said. “I talked to their coach -- Sadd Jackson -- at one of their scrimmages and kind of joked [by saying], ‘What? You’re not even scared of us?’

“He said, ‘No, coach, I’m trying to win some district games, so I’m sending my scouts to watch district teams.’ ”

Had Jackson viewed Lampasas’ scrimmage in Waco, he would have seen the Badgers’ offense put together several lengthy drives.

During the controlled portion, Scott scored on a 50-yard run, and full back Secody Howard punched in a five-yard score.

It was more of the same during the live quarter.

Connally opened the scoring with a 30-yard touchdown pass, but the Badgers quickly responded with a 70-yard drive punctuated by Howard’s goal-line touchdown to tie the scrimmage at 7-7.

Following a three-and-out defensive stand, the Badgers drove 70 yards once again and scored the go-ahead touchdown when Scott delivered a 25-yard pass to Alan Figurski.

After surviving the last-second scare, the biggest concern for the Badgers following the scrimmage was the health of Justin Maldonado.

The junior running back is questionable for Friday’s opener at Manor after suffering a high ankle sprain, but McQueen is optimistic.

“We will see how much he can cope with pain,” the coach said. “After the scrimmage, he was walking on it. It wasn’t like he needed crutches or anything.”

The Badgers’ game at Manor is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Both subvarsity teams will play Manor at home Thursday. The freshmen open the evening at 5:30 p.m., with the junior varsity to follow at 7 p.m.