Thanks to Ian Carson’s game-winning, walk-off field goal last Friday, the varsity football team knocked off the Austin Maroons to bring its overall record to 5-1 and its district record to 1-1.
The Knight offense, frustrated against LBJ the week before, exploded for six touchdowns, three by Daron Gage and one each by Andre Blakemore, Alex Julian and Joseph Weathersby.
Carson’s kick broke a 41-41 tie as time expired. In the celebration that followed, Carson received a Gatorade shower and was carried to the bus on the shoulders of his teammates.
“When I kicked the winning field goal, the pressure was pretty overwhelming, but at the same time, it was one that I had made all the time in practice and before the game,” Carson said. “After I made the kick, I was excited for myself but more excited for my teammates and the coaches. We were able to comeback after being down at halftime, and all I did was put the icing on the cake.”
Austin High led at halftime, 30-24.
“During the first half, our team was very frustrated with ourselves,” Carson said. “After halftime we came out and changed the tone of the game. We knew we could win the game if we did our assignments and did what our coaches taught us to do,” Carson said.
![NEW CHALLENGE, NEW TEAM MEMBERS: Every season, VEX creates a new game that robotics team members are faced with and have to build a robot to compete in. This year’s game forces students to create a robot that is able to stack rings onto mobile goals in order to score points. The change in games each season is something that robotics teacher Audrea Moyers appreciates.
“One of the things that I like about VEX is that they have a new problem to solve every year,” she said. ¨Even though the equipment’s the same, they have to analyze the game, and they have to come up with solutions that are unique that year. They are using their knowledge from prior years, but they have to kind of redesign a problem.”
As returning teams were faced a new game, some new teams and members had to adapt to a uncommon playing field and game.
“Three of our four teams were competing for the first time this year, and they had very different experiences match to match, so I think they learned a lot,¨ she said. ¨It’s hard just watching a video online to know how it’s actually going to be in person, so they all learned a lot about what gameplay is like, how to work with an alliance partner [and] how to adapt during the day to changes.”](https://macshieldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_9283-1-1200x800.jpg)
![WISHFUL WINDOW SHOPPING: Senior Mia Plemons observes the displays in the MAC during the 5x7 gallery night. Although not a member herself, Plemons feels a connection to the program through her friends and peers. “I have a lot of friends in art,” Plemons said. “And I’ve seen a lot of their work and it’s all really nice and beautiful, and I really enjoy seeing some of the nice pieces people have made.” Plemons didn’t manage to secure a piece of her own, but left impressed by all the ones she saw. “I didn’t [have a favorite], every piece of art I saw was just absolutely breathtaking,” Plemons said. “I think they should definitely do more things like this in the future. I think it’s definitely great for people in the art program to get their art out there and getting experience with making things that people buy.” Caption by Noah Braun. Photo by Lilah Lavigne.](https://macshieldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/54188247349_62510240f2_o-e1733894950394-1200x976.jpg)
