By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

DECATUR – The Spain Park Jaguars showed a resilient effort, but were unable to overcome costly mistakes in their season-opening, three-overtime 38-35 loss to the Austin Black Bears.

“They fought their tails off. We’ve got some good skill on offense, but we just made too many mistakes,” said Spain Park Head Coach Shawn Raney. “We’ve just go to become better football players and do what we’ve got to do. But I’m proud of them.

“It looked bleak a lot of times, and they just kept fighting,” Raney added of the non-region game.

Austin kicker Irving Vera connected on an 18-yard field goal at the end of the third overtime period to cap off a game highlighted by several Jaguar comebacks.

The teams entered overtime tied at 28, and the Jaguar placekicker Crosby Gray missed a 35-yard field goal attempt on Spain Park’s first possession of post-game play.

After holding the Black Bears out of the end zone, Vera’s 20-yard field goal attempt sailed right of the uprights, sending the game into a second overtime.

Austin’s Asa Martin scored on a 10-yard run in the first play of the second overtime, and Vera connected on the PAT to put the Black Bears ahead 35-28. However, Spain Park’s Wade Streeter quickly answered on a 10-yard touchdown run followed by a successful Gray PAT.

The Jaguars had possession first in the third overtime, but were unable to punch the ball into the end zone. A 21-yard Gray field goal attempt was blocked, setting up the game-winning Austin field goal.

Spain Park quarterback Joey Beatty completed 11 of 18 passing attempts for 259 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Larry Wooden and Streeter led the Jaguars’ rushing attack, gaining 66 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries and 57 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, respectively.

Wooden also led Spain Park in receptions, reeling in three passes for 83 yards and a touchdown. Thomas Jordan reeled in a 38-yard touchdown pass from Beatty in the third quarter.

Spain park’s Bridge Suber caught a 2-point conversion pass from Beatty midway through the fourth quarter to tie the game at 28.