Rams edge Magnolia with 2nd-half rally

MAGNOLIA — Held to 14 points in the first half, Lakeside’s offense came to life in the third quarter Friday night.

Dupree Swanson ran for two touchdowns and Taylor Gillham passed for two in a 29-point second half as the Rams beat Magnolia 43-35.

With Lakeside trailing 21-14, Gillham found Torrin Davis on a 12-yard touchdown pass. Swanson rambled 11 yards to put Lakeside ahead midway through the third quarter.

The Panthers wouldn’t go down quietly, regaining a 28-27 lead on Payton Campbell’s six-yard run. Lakeside responded with Carson Muldoon hauling in a 23-yard touchdown pass and Swanson scoring from six yards out, both in the fourth quarter.

Magnolia’s Kadyn Roach scored on a six-yard touchdown reception from Campbell to set the final margin.

Both teams flashed lethal rushing attacks in a back-and-forth first

quarter. Swanson had touchdown runs of 4 and 33 yards, but Tayvon Patterson, Terry Lambert and Roach each ran for one score to give the Panthers an early lead.

Roach paced Magnolia with 199 yards rushing while Lambert chipped in with 92 yards on just five attempts. Campbell completed two of five passes for 36 yards.

Swanson carried 30 times for 199 yards and Michael James added 156 yards on 26 attempts. Gillham completed eight of 14 passes for 132 yards, Keelan Fleming with three catches for 62 yards.

Lakeside improved to 2-3 overall and 2-0 in conference before traveling to White Hall next week. Following White Hall’s 22-10 loss at Camden Fairview Friday night, the Rams control their destiny in a quest for a third-straight 5A-South conference title.