L.D. Bell helps playoff chances with a last second kick in a victory over Boswell

The Hurst L.D. Bell and Fort Worth Boswell football teams both needed wins in order to keep their playoff hopes off of life support out of District 3-6A, especially the Blue Raiders who lost a close game to Weatherford last week.

The game went back and forth in the second half, but Bell goth the ball with 2:31 left and moved from its own 18 yard line to the Boswell 10. The drive lasted 10 plays before A.J. Rosen came on and calmly booted a 27-yard field goal with 15 seconds left to give the Blue Raiders a 29-27 win on Friday night at Pioneer Stadium.

“They tried to ice me,” said Rosen, a junior, who booted three 27-yard field goals. “But I got back out there with my team and I finished it up. This game was so important coming off the loss last week, it was really tough, so coming back this week and getting the ‘W’ was really important.”

Boswell (4-3 overall, 1-3 in district) took a 27-26 lead with 34 seconds left in the third quarter on an 18-yard scoring run by Colin Dixon. Dixon was a work horse for the Pioneers rushing 35 times for 126 tough yards.

L.D. Bell (5-2, 2-2) was forced to punt on its next two series, but Boswell was unable to score or run out the clock. After the first punt the Pioneers moved from their own 23 to the Blue Raider’s 23 in 14 plays, but lost the ball on downs.

Bell punted for the second time giving the ball to Boswell at its own 24 with 5:06 left in the game. The Pioneers picked up two first downs on the drive, but booted the ball back to the Blue Raiders with 2:31 left.

“They had the ball most of the game, it seemed like, and we need to take more advantage of our opportunities on offense in general,” said L.D. Bell quarterback Maddox Olatunde, who led the Blue Raiders with 133 yards rushing on 13 carries and completed 17 of 27 passes for 98 yards. “We continue to work on that, but on that last drive we did it when it mattered.”

Boswell, literally, ran twice as many plays as the Blue Raiders 98-49. The Pioneers ran the ball 49 times and quarterback Tye Renfro attempted 49 passes, completing 35 for 318 yards.

Boswell out gained L.D. Bell 463-312 in total yards.

Kairel Robertson was Renfro’s favorite target with 14 catches for 132 yards with De’Ondre Lords picking up 69 yards on 10 receptions.

The Blue Raiders started with a bang when Ja’Darius Steele took the opening kickoff and raced 95 yards for a touchdown just 14 seconds into the game.

“It was totally unexpected,” said Steele, who easily evaded the Boswell kicker around midfield to break into the clear. “I trusted my team with the blocks and I went up the hole and I hit it. It was that simple.”

But from that point Boswell looked as if it might run away with the game scoring 20 unanswered points. Robertson hauled in touchdown passes of 16 and 34 yards from Renfro that were sandwiched around a three-yard scoring run by Donte Reese.

But Bell went on a 19-0 run of its own.

On the second play following the 34-yard Renfro to Robertson TD, Kenny Earskin ran off right tackle for a 49-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 20-14 with 2:41 left in the first quarter.

Earskin finished with 81 yards rushing on nine carries for L.D. Bell.

An interception by Blue Raider defensive back Mason Erickson was returned 30 yards down to the Boswell 14. But L.D. Bell couldn’t punch it in and Rosen came in for the first of his three 27-yard field goals cutting the lead to 20-17 with 8:22 left in the second quarter.

After holding the Pioneers on downs on the ensuing series, Olatunde took the second snap and raced around left end for a 66-yard score to give the Blue Raiders their first lead at 23-20 with 5:07 left before the half.

Boswell took the opening kick of the second half, but gambled and lost the ball on downs at its own 42 yard line. Bell took advantage moving to the Pioneer’s 10 yard line in nine plays before Rosen came on to kick his second 27-yard three pointer to push the lead to 26-20.

“He is a Division I talent and we’ve always know that since he was a freshman,” said L.D. Bell coach T.J. Dibble on Rosen. “He’s an elite soccer player and this year he has transformed into a weapon for our football team. For us to have the ability to kick field goals in meaningful possessions has been critical throughout our season.”

Boswell has a tough road ahead if it has any hopes of making the playoffs. The Pioneers are in a must-win situation next week against Weatherford and will likely have to win out against Weatherford, Crowley, and Fort Worth Chisholm Trail to force a tie for the final playoff berth.

Weatherford’s win over Bell last week was huge and if the Kangaroos defeat Boswell next week then the Roos will likely be in.

The Blue Raiders have the toughest road left yet with North Crowley next week and their grudge match with Euless Trinity on the final Thursday of the regular season.

“It’s all about unity,” said Olatunde. “This week we emphasized unity and playing together. These last couple of weeks we lost a couple of close games.

“We just fought and we never gave up. We had faith in each other, our team mates, our coaches, the whole team and that’s what happens, a dub.”