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BY TYLER CLIFTON
KFYN SPORTS DIRECTOR
PLANO - It was the defending Class 3A, Division I state champions against a program aspiring for future titles in only its second year of existence.
It's not always the team with the playoff pedigree that comes out on top, and such was the case Saturday night, as Lovejoy scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to turn an 11-point deficit into a 24-14 win against Prosper at Plano's Clark Field.
Michael Means completed eight of 14 passes for 176 yards and two second-half touchdown passes for the Leopards (12-1), who play Abilene Wylie in this week's state semifinals at a time, date and location to be determined.
Means also ran 17 times for 75 yards and a touchdown to account for 251 of Lovejoy's 296 yards of total offense.
The teams exchanged punts to start the second half, and the Leopards were pinned at their own 15 on third down. Means found a wide-open Marsh near his team's own sideline for an 85-yard catch-and-run to the end zone to trail 14-10 with 6:59 left in the third quarter.
Marsh had six receptions for 135 yards.
Means scored from a yard out on Lovejoy's next possession on a scoring drive led by an 18-yard run from Tanner Michaels and a 14-yarder by Blake Martin.
Means' 22-yard pass to Marsh set up a 27-yard touchdown pass to Zander Hamilton for the final margin, as the Leopards scored on three straight second-half possessions.
Byron Butler and Blake Westback each intercepted Prosper quarterback Brian Hardy, who completed 16 of 23 passes for 175 yards.
Westback's interception of Hardy came with 1:41 left in the game after the Eagles drove inside the 20 to potentially pull within a field goal.
Prosper (11-2) had six second-half possessions result in two punts, two interceptions, a lost fumble and a turnover on downs. Juan Williams, who had 161 yards on 23 carries, was held to minus-3 yards on seven second-half carries.
The Leopards scored the first points on Eddie Puskarich's 42-yard field goal.
Williams put the Eagles on the board with a 10-yard touchdown on a drive he set up with runs of eight, 14, 24 and 30 yards.
Lovejoy made a questionable call near the end of the first half after attempting a fake punt on its own 38 yard line. Ryan Lusby had an open receiver, but the pass fell short.
The Eagles took advantage with Hardy's 33-yard touchdown pass to Lucas Soileau on fourth down for a 14-3 halftime lead.
Lovejoy 24, Prosper 14
Prosper 7 7 0 0 -14
Lovejoy 3 0 14 7 -24
Team Stats Prosper Lovejoy
First Downs 16 12
Rushes-Yards 34-163 36-120
Passing Yards 175 176
C-A-I 16-23-2 8-15-0
Fumbles-Lost 3-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards 6-52 6-50
Punts-Average 5-27.8 5-34.4
Individual Statistics
Rushing – Prosper: Juan Williams 23-161, Brett Thompson 1-4, Blake Owens 1-0, Brian Hardy 7-0, Colin Padilla 2-(-2); Lovejoy: Michael Means 17-75, Tanner Michaels 7-25, Blake Martin 12-20.
Passing – Prosper: Brian Hardy 16-23-2 175; Lovejoy: Michael Means 8-14-0 176, Ryan Lusby 0-1-0 0. Receiving - Prosper: Lucas Soileau 3-71, Mario Edwards 3-40, Brett Thompson 6-32, Hunter Havens 3-19, Juan Williams 1-13; Lovejoy: Hayden Marsh 6-135, Zander Hamilton 1-27, Blake Martin 1-14.
FIRST QUARTER
Lovejoy - Eddie Puskarich 42 FG, 4:28, 6 plays, 28 yards, 2:34
Prosper - Juan Williams 10 run, :27 (Cale Brewer kick), 8 plays, 80 yards, 4:01
SECOND QUARTER
Prosper - Lucas Soileau 33 pass from Brian Hardy, :21 (Brewer kick), 4 plays, 38 yards, 1:12
THIRD QUARTER
Lovejoy - Hayden Marsh 85 pass from Michael Means, 6:59 (Puskarich kick), 3 plays, 83 yards, 1:50
Lovejoy - Means 1 run, 3:04 (Puskarich kick), 6 plays, 39 yards, 1:51
FOURTH QUARTER
Lovejoy - Zander Hamilton 27 pass from Means, 9:36 (Puskarich kick), 7 plays, 62 yards, 2:46