As a mix of red and black flooded the stadium, students held onto a resonating thought: “This is the year we could win.” Yet the final Friday Night Lights of the season ended with a disappointingly close 21-19 defeat to Kinkaid.
The Mavs entered the game determined to end the Falcons’ twelve-year winning streak, hoping to join the winning teams of 2007 and 2011.
As the game commenced, running back Cole Allen broke free from multiple tackles for a 30-yard rush, putting the Mavs in the red zone. Allen spun into the Falcon defenders, fumbling the ball. After the Mavs took back possession two plays later, however, Allen narrowly weaved between the defenders, breaking free for an electric 60-yard rushing touchdown to put the Mavs on top 7-0.
The Falcons responded in the second quarter with a 50-yard passing touchdown to junior Peter Liuzzi, before completing their 2-point conversion to take back the game 8-7.
The Mavs got the ball back but missed the third down conversion and had to punt the ball back to the Falcons. The Falcons took advantage of this opportunity and steadily inched their way down the field, forcing the ball into the end zone after 20 plays to extend their lead to 15-7.
After the kickoff, Allen received the ball at the 15, speeding past the defenders across the field to put the Mavs at the 40 yard line, reenergizing the student section as cheers echoed through the stadium. The very next play, Allen went up for a catch but drew a pass interference call, putting the Mavs on the other 15 yard line. Leaping high above two defenders, Allen snatched the ball out of the air and rolled into the end zone, putting the Mavs only two points behind the Falcons.
Throughout the third quarter and 45 plays, the Mavs and Falcons alternated sides to no avail, with little ground being gained on either side, keeping the score at 13-15.
Starting in the fourth quarter, the student body began to move along the stands, following the line of scrimmage to cheer on the Mavs in a stampede.
“I’m proud of us for moving back and forth across the bleachers and constantly showing support,” head prefect Mark Doan said. “This is probably the strongest connection I felt to the field.”
Seniors rallied their underclassmen into chants, unifying the Upper School with coordinated applause and choruses of “D-up,” “Butterfingers” and “Let’s go Mavs!”
“I’ve never seen such a big student section. Everyone really showed up,” prefect Mark Vann said.
Halfway through the fourth quarter, Allen bulldozed through five defenders, even dragging one into the end zone to put the Mavs up 19-15. Unfortunately, Kinkaid gradually made their way down the go-route, scoring with two minutes left and taking the lead 21-15 after failing a two-point conversion.
Junior Shea Quinn threw two quick passes to receiver and fellow-junior Andrew Christensen. The Mavs marched with fury down the field to take back the game, making their way to the 30 yard line. After two incomplete passes, the Mavs were on their fourth down. They knew this was their final chance to win. But as the Hail Mary throw sailed to Allen, the play was intercepted by the Falcons, ending the game with a loss for the Mavs.
“The atmosphere was really crazy,” sophomore Tony Thomas said. “I thought this was our year.”
The students and team left the stadium in silence, lamenting over how close the Mavs were this year.
“Unfortunately we just couldn’t pull through,” Vann said. “As seniors, we were really looking forward to going out on a high note with the Kinkaid game and breaking the streak.”
