With division football play just a week away, Lake football coach Tate Hanna said his Hornets played their best half of football this past week.
The Hornets ran at will on homestanding Richland last week, leading 21-8 at the half and taking a 35-20 win over the Rangers on Friday.
With the win, the Hornets improve to 5-1 on the season. The Hornets will begin Division 4-2A play this week when they travel to Union for the Yellowjackets’ homecoming.
Despite giving up a short-field touchdown to the Rangers, Hanna thought his Hornets put everything together in the first half.
“That was probably our best football that we have played this season,” Hanna said. “We came out there and drove it down their throat. We had a couple of penalties on their first drive but after that, they really couldn’t do anything with our first defense. They have been putting up a lot of points but their starters on scored eight points on our starters. I thought we controlled the football and I was pleased with how we played.”
After forcing Richland to punt on the first possession of the game, Lake drove down the field in chunks, moving 83 yards in seven plays. Mark Qualls had a 54-yard run to begin the drive and capped it off with a 9-yard touchdown run. Mickey Parker’s PAT gave Lake a 7-0 lead.
Richland got a big kickoff return on the ensuing kickoff and started the drive at the Lake 32. It took the Rangers eight plays but they finally scored on a 3-yard quarterback keeper, who also ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-7 Richland lead.
But the Hornets responded with a punishing 12-play, 68-yard drive as Ethan Gray found the end zone on a 3-yard touchdown run. Parker’s PAT failed and Lake led 13-8.
After a quick three-and-out by Richland, Lake needed just two plays to go 60 yards. Parker started out the drive with a 46-yard pass to Zywon Ledbetter. Qualls finished off the drive with a 14-yard run with 5:28 left in the half. Parker then ran in the two-point conversion and Lake led 21-8 at the half.
“Our goal on offense has been to improve every week and I think we have done that,” Hanna said. “I think that is the best game we have played up front. We have played with more effort up front and I think it has showed on the scoreboard. That’s what we have to have from our offense line. We aren’t flashy in the passing game and we have to control the line of scrimmage. Of course, Mark and Ethan are both running the ball really well right now.”
The Hornets got the ball to begin the second half and wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as Gray broke loose on a 68-yard touchdown run with 11:34 left in the third quarter. Parker booted the PAT and Lake led 28-8.
Lake added its last score early in the fourth quarter when Qualls got loose again on a 34-yard run. Will Burns booted the PAT and Lake led 35-8.
Richland added two late touchdowns against the Lake reserves, scoring twice in the last two minutes for the final margin.
On offense, Lake had 341 yards of total offense with 295 on the ground and 46 in the air. Qualls finished with 183 yards on 16 carries while Gray had 105 yards on 13 carries.
On defense, Seth Prestage had four solo tackles and 14 assists to lead the Lake defense.
