It was a dark rainy night Thursday when McNeil faced off against Austin High – a night filled with controversial calls, lightning in the distance, and great efforts by both teams. Unfortunately, the night ended with a final score of 13-28, with McNeil on the losing side of things.

Fans filled a packed House Park to witness the Mavericks take on the Austin Maroons in the last non-conference game of the season for both teams. With rain in the forecast, Austin got to work early scoring the first two touchdowns of the game. However McNeil quickly responded with a spectacular 37-yard pass from Hayden Cooper to Riley Bloodgood.

After a scoreless second and third quarter, the score remained 7-14 going into the fourth. Things became controversial when a 5-yard touchdown pass that looked to be out of bounds was ruled a touchdown increasing Austin High’s lead to 21-7.

After throwing an interception that was returned 50 yards for a touchdown, Cooper looked to put the Mavs back in the game and redeem himself as he threw a 16-yard pass to Corans Fisher for a touchdown, increasing the Mavs’ score to 13. Unfortunately, those points became the Mavs’ last.

Conference play begins Friday as McNeil takes on Stony Point with attendance surely to be higher than usual for Homecoming. The start of conference play means the start of the real season, must-win games. McNeil still has a chance to have a winning season if they can push forward and shake off these losses they’ve suffered so far this season.