By REV. EDWIN FINDLEY
Special to the News Herald

WEST -- After a 21-day layoff the Leverett's Chapel Lions came out fighting for their UIL Six-Man second-round playoff game here against undefeated Sidney on Friday night.
LC led early, 14-0, and swap the lead with Sidney twice more before halftime, but the Eagles would take a 40-38 halftime lead and get a pair of third-quarter scores to hold off LC, 54-38, on a wet, cold night. It rained the entire game, and the temperature had dropped into the upper 40s, making things miserable for the players and the fans.
Leverett's Chapel finished the season at 8-3. The Lions had been the District 15 runner-up in the regular season, but had an open date the final week of the season, then had a first-round bye, giving them two Fridays without a game.
Sidney, which is now 12-0 on the year, was the champion of District 14.
"We just didn't make plays when we had to," LC head coach Matt Everett said. "That's how it goes. We just did not click on offense during the second half."
Senior quarterback Daniel Still threw for five touchdowns on the night in defeat, and finished 25-of-51 with 262 yards and three interceptions.
Trevor Dean finished his high school career by scoring three touchdowns, and had nine catches for 152 yards. Dean's first touchdown was a catch from Still for 42 yards to finish a five-play 64-yard drive to start the game.
His second score was a catch from the 34-yard-line to finish off a 65-yard drive that put Leverett's Chapel up 22-14.
Dean's third touchdown was a catch from the 16, finishing a quick three-play, 32-yard drive to give LC a 38-34 lead, their last of the night.
Kyle Youngblood also finished his high school career by scoring a touchdown in the first quarter, a 20-yard pass from Still. Youngblood finished with four catches for 55 yards and the score.
Another senior, Chris Pruett, scored a second-quarter touchdown on a 3-yard pass, giving the Lions a 30-26 lead at the time.
The Lions, who have done very well the last two seasons on the gridiron, will now put up their football equipment and start basketball season after the holidays.