Leading just 6-0 at the half, Lake coach Tate Hanna told his team at halftime to get ready to run the ball in the second half.
The Hornets did just that as they pulled away to take a 27-9 win over Choctaw Central on Friday night at Lake’s Death Valley.
Lake improves to 4-0 on the season and will host Morton on Friday night.
Hanna said the game was closer than it should have been in the end.
“I think defensively we played a great game,” Hanna said. “Offensively, we moved the ball and finished with more than 300 yards of offense, but we aren’t getting in the end zone. I think if we can clean up some things, we will be OK. I just wasn’t pleased with not putting more points on the board. It probably should have been 28-0. I think if we scored on that second drive of the game, they might lay down and quit.”
Lake kicked off to start the game and successfully recovered an onside kick. From there, the Hornets moved 49 yards in three plays as Brady McGee hit Zywon Ledbetter on a 30-yard touchdown pass. McGee’s PAT attempt failed.
The game turned into a defensive contest from there as Lake turned the ball over on downs after a nine-play and 13-play drive. Lake also threw an interception, while Marquon Hughes had an interception for the Hornets.
“Choctaw is a good team and is getting a lot better,” Hanna said. “I was proud of our defense. They have been carrying us. I thought our defensive backs did a good job because they are going to challenge you with the vertical ball. I thought we defended them well.”
In the second half, the Warriors finally got on the ball after an 11-play drive with a 25-yard field goal to cut the lead to 6-3.
The Hornets then responded with a four-play, 69-yard drive as J.D. Evans scored on a 28-yard run. Johnny Johnson ran in the two-point conversion and Lake led 14-3.
Choctaw pulled back close in the fourth quarter as the Warriors put together an 11-play drive. The big play on the drive was a 37-yard pass from Gerald Isom to Kashden Bell. Isom finished off the drive with a 1-yard run. The try for two failed and Lake led 14-9.
But that margin didn’t last long as Johnson returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown for the Hornets. The try for two failed and Lake led 20-9.
After an eight-play drive failed yield points for Choctaw, Lake added one last score as they went 31 yards in four plays. Johnson finished off the drive with a 21-yard touchdown run. The try for two failed for the final margin of 27-9.
“I thought the offensive line played a lot better, especially in the second half,” Hanna said. “We didn’t throw the ball in the second half. I told them at half time that we were going to run the ball. We still have to get more aggressive up front. With four seniors up there, I expect to dominate. I thought we did a pretty god job of moving them around in the second half.”
McGee was 11-of-19 passing for 147 yards. Ledbetter had four catches for 67 yards while Danarrious Hughes had four catches for 70 yards. Johnson led the rushing attack with 80 yards on nine carries while Evans had 76 yards on six carries.
On defense, Ledbetter led the way with eight tackles while Johnson and Shelton Porter each had 6.5 tackles. Marquon Hughes had 4.5 tackles and an interception.
Isom was 7-of-22 passing for 101 yards while the Warriors only rushed for 47 yards.
