Rams’ air strikes find targets, 42-14
Primarily a running team this season, Lakeside went to the air to take down Hot Springs Friday night at Reese Memorial Stadium.
Averaging 96 passing yards per game, Lakeside quarterback Taylor Gilham completed 17 of 23 attempts for a season-high 252 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-14 triumph.
“We always want to throw the football, but we felt we had a good matchup doing that tonight,” Lakeside coach Jared McBride said. “He threw the ball well and the receivers caught it and made plays for him.”
Leading 21-7, Lakeside took control with a barrage of third-quarter scores. Forced to punt on their first possession of the second half, the Rams got another chance after recovering a Hot Springs fumble deep in Trojan territory.
Dupree Swanson scored on a one-yard plunge three plays later. A three-yard touchdown run by Michael James followed by Gilham’s 34-yard strike to Sawyer Lamb gave Lakeside a 42-7 lead with 9:52 remaining in the fourth quarter.
“We’ve got a lot of kids that aren’t with us anymore and we’re starting a lot of kids both ways; eventually that caught up with us,” Hot Springs coach Chris Vereen said. “When (the deficit) got to 21 points, we had a decision to make if we wanted to get back in it or try to make it respectable. Unfortuantely, a lot of the time it goes south on you in a hurry and that’s what happened.”
Recovering Lakeside’s onside kick attempt to open the game, Hot Springs led 7-0 when Damien Walker scored from nine yards out after 4:52 off the clock.
The momentum was short-lived,
Gilham connecting with Keelan Fleming for a 17-yard score just two minutes later to spark a 42-0 run by Lakeside.
James scored from a yard out while Gilham fired a 15-yard touchdown to Torin Davis in the second quarter for a 21-7 advantage at halftime.
As Swanson took the backseat with just eight carries, James paced Lakeside with 127 rushing yards on 15 attempts.
“Dupree could have carried it 30 times, but we’re trying to get him ready for the playoffs and he’s a very unselfish player,” said McBride. “He wants to see everybody do well and be rewarded, and he’ll be ready to go next week.”
Lakeside’s stingy second-half defense thwarted Hot Springs’ comeback hopes, recovering two fumbles in the third quarter and limiting Hot Springs to 48 yards in the last two periods.
“I’m proud of the guys; they practiced well all week and they knew how important the game was as far as the rivalry and bragging rights,” McBride said. “Our defense was playing at a high level. We helped them a little on the first drive, but after that we got settled in and played really well. It was fun watching that group play.”
Down 42-7, the Trojans mounted a scoring drive in the final two minutes. Playing his final game as a Trojan, Kenny Byrd connected with Satiair Thomas for
“They did a nice job of getting their heads screwed back on straight and driving down to put one more in,” said Vereen. “It was good for the seniors and good for Kenny. I thought he did an excellent job throwing the football tonight.”
Byrd completed five of 11 for 135 yards, adding 34 yards on the ground. Walker paced the Trojans with 42 yards on
15 carries.
Swanson finished with 69 rushing yards while Fleming had five receptions for a teamhigh 73 yards.
As No. 2 seed from
5A-South, Lakeside (6-4, 6-1) hosts 5A-West No. 3 seed Harrison in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs next week at Austin Field. The Trojans end the season 1-9 overall and 1-6 in conference.
“You want to have that good taste in your mouth when you start practice next week, and we will,” McBride said. “We’ve got a big task at hand headed into the playoffs, but we’re going to relish this victory for a little while.” a 12-yard touchdown.