Missed Two-Point Conversions Sink Loara’s Comeback Effort

Deuces were wild Thursday night at Western High School, but unfortunately for Loara the Saxons couldn’t cash in a pair of conversion attempts in the fourth quarter of a 23-21 nonleague loss to Sunny Hills.

Loara (3-1) scored twice in the final quarter but failed on the ground and through the air on two-point attempts in losing its first game of the season. Sunny Hills (2-2) won its second consecutive game on the strength of a 23-point first half.

Punt returner Bryan Blanks paved the way for both of Loara’s fourth-quarter scores with two fine returns. Blanks’ 40-yard run set up Mister Albritton’s five-yard keeper that cut Loara’s lead to 23-15 with 9 minutes 53 seconds remaining.

Albritton failed on a conversion run, however, and Loara needed a touchdown and a two-point conversion to salvage a tie.

Blanks quickly got Loara back into scoring range with a 33-yard punt return on the Saxons’ next possession, and five plays later, Robert Bradshaw scored on a 10-yard run. This time, Loara decided to go to the air for two.

Albritton rolled to his left and, with defender Mark Veronda approaching, tossed a short pass to Jason Hart. But the ball was thrown to Hart’s left and Sunny Hills hung on for the win.

“We’re young, and when you’re young, you’ll have games like this,” said Sunny Hills Coach Tim Devaney, trying his best to explain his team’s breakdown in the second half. “The two punt returns were a combination of a fine athlete (Blanks) and some breakdowns on our part.

“You never know if it’s (a punt return) going to hurt you until it does. You practice all week to prepare for something like that, but you never know.”

What was certain was the precision of Sunny Hills’ offense in the first half. Quarterback Steve Mellano passed for 123 of his 160 yards in the half and the Lancers added 113 yards rushing.

But Sunny Hills self-destructed in the second half with repeated holding penalties. Running back Marlon Womack, who finished with 110 yards in 16 carries, was the only player who sustained a good effort for two halves.

Afterward, Loara Coach John deFries pointed to a lackluster first half, more than the missed conversions, for his team’s loss.

“First of all, Sunny Hills is the best 1-2 team (now 2-2) in the county,” deFries said. “We just didn’t play good football in the first half and got too far behind.”