Lubbock High so desperately wanted to prove that last week’s win over Midland Lee was no fluke, and in a lot of ways, the Westerners did just that Thursday night.

Lubbock's Angel Armendariz is escorted off the field after an injury during their game at Midland Thursday at Lowrey Field. (Merissa Ferguson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

But with their starting quarterback and running back on the sideline with injured legs and their top receiver rendered ineffective, it was impossible for the Westerners to put their best foot forward, and that led to many struggles in a 42-14 loss to Midland at Lowrey Field.

Starting quarterback Angel Armendariz left during the first LHS drive of the game when he appeared to re-injure the left knee he had surgically repaired after a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered late last season. A little while later, starting running back Shaquille Johnson was injured on a kickoff and spent most of the game on the sideline on crutches with an apparent right knee injury.

Added to the myriad injuries already plaguing the Westerners (1-3, 1-2 in District 2-5A), they simply didn’t have enough to keep up with the explosive Bulldogs (2-2, 2-1), who have now won two straight after losing their first two games of the year.

Midland quarterback Jack Bolger threw for three touchdowns and the Bulldogs constantly gashed the Westerners up the middle with the running game and well-timed shovel passes, two of which led to touchdowns. Midland led almost from start to finish, scoring on the third play of the game and never looking back, while Lubbock High never fully got into gear due to the injuries.

But there were positives. Backup quarterback Kelan Hamman showed flashes of his ability, and given time to get repetitions during the week could be a solid answer if Armendariz is unable to go. Dorrae Montgomery and Aaron Pauhill also gave LHS some solid plays in the running game in case Johnson’s injury forces him to miss extensive time.

Plus the defense, despite Midland hitting big plays and never relinquishing the lead, didn’t allow the game to get out of hand. But it was about the worst possible start Lubbock High could get off to, both mentally and physically.

Midland wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard, and really never stopped the entire first half. On the third play from scrimmage, running back Corey Street took a swing pass from Bolger and raced untouched down the right sideline 57 yards for a score, and Lubbock High found itself down 7-0 less than 2 minutes into the contest.

But showing the confidence gained from last week, the Westerners responded by driving right back down the field, getting a 44-yard run on a draw from Johnson. LHS got as far as the 7-yard line before suffering a huge blow.

On third-and-goal, Armendariz rolled to his left, and as he approached the sideline tried to cut up with some open field in front of him. But he collapsed at the 9-yard line, holding his surgically repaired left knee.

Armendariz limped to the sideline under his own power but did not return to the game, wearing an ice pack on the knee supported by crutches.

LHS tried a fake field goal on fourth down but to no avail, but the Bulldogs were not immediately able to capitalize.

Lubbock High forced a punt and took over at its own 45-yard line. Hamman hit Tim Evans for passes of 11 and 18 yards to the Midland 12, but Erick Callier picked off Hamman at the 2 on fourth down, thwarting another possible scoring drive.

This time, Midland turned it into points. Street had a pair of runs to the Midland 38, and Bolger hit Antwon Goodley for 32 yards to the LHS 22. Two plays later, Street took a shovel pass and scooted into the end zone from 10 yards out to push the lead to 14-0.

Midland forced a three-and-out by LHS and turned it into more points. Taking over at the Westerner 36, a pass to Goodley and a 15-yard gain on a draw by Tyler Middleton took the Bulldogs to the LHS 8. A holding penalty pushed the Bulldogs back, but two plays later Bolger again caught the Westerners over-pursuing and hit Middleton on a shovel pass for a 13-yard touchdown and 21-0 lead.

Facing an early exit, Lubbock High responded on the ensuing drive, finally capitalizing on some big plays once inside Midland territory.

Hamman ran and passed his way into Midland territory, then two runs by Montgomery got LHS to the Bulldog 21. A 20-yard pass to Nathan Slaughter — his first catch of the game — took the ball to the 1, and Paulhill plunged in from there. The extra-point kick after a delay of game penalty failed, leaving the score at 21-6 going into halftime.

Despite the loss of Armendariz, LHS still had 210 yards offense in the first half compared to 242 for Midland.
Midland then put the game out of reach when Goodley recovered a Bolger fumble in the end zone for a touchdown at the end of a 31-yard run, then turned a muffed kickoff into a 3-yard TD run by Middleton 53 seconds later to push the lead to 35-6.

LHS added a score when Donnie Bryant capped a 78-yard, 12-play drive with a 6-yard touchdown grab from Hamman midway through the fourth quarter. But Midland answered on a 46-yard option toss for a touchdown by Middleton.

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MIDLAND 42, LUBBOCK HIGH 14
Midland 7 14 14 7 — 42
Lubbock High 0 6 0 8 — 14
First Quarter
MID—Corey Street 57 pass from Jack Bolger (Grant Sirgo kick); 10:42
Second Quarter
MID—Street 10 pass from Bolger (Sirgo kick); 11:28
MID—Tyler Middleton 13 pass from Bolger (Sirgo kick); 7:51
LHS—Aaron Paulhill 1 run (kick failed); 4:12
Third Quarter
MID—Antwon Goodley recovered fumble in end zone (Sirgo kick); 5:43
MID—Middleton 3 run (Sirgo kick); 4:50
Fourth Quarter
LHS—Donnie Bryant 6 pass from Kelan Hamman (Nathan Slaughter pass from Hamman); 7:57
MID—Middleton 46 run (Sirgo kick); 3:50