Rams top Leopards for 1st win of season
MALVERN — Lakeside traveled to Malvern’s Claude Mann Stadium Friday night and the Rams brought home their first victory of the season, 35-7.
Lakeside (1-2) took control of the game in the first half and added to a 21-7 halftime lead early in the second half. Senior quarterback Taylor Gillham connected with senior receiver Sawyer Lamb for a 46-yard touchdown pass less than three minutes into the second half. The Rams took a 28-7 lead after the extra point.
Gillham scored the final touchdown of the game on a one-yard run with 5:42 remaining in the game. He finished 13-for-17 passing for 214 yards with one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown.
“We were more physical at the line of scrimmage,” said Lakeside head coach Jared McBride. “We played more like I thought we would have played the first two weeks. We were very physical up front, we finished our runs, our receivers blocked really well and we were able to control the line of scrimmage. That allowed us to spread the ball around the field and that is what we want to do.”
Senior running back Dorecus Ferguson had 15 carries
for 49 yards, including three touchdowns, in the first half. He found the end zone on a one-yard rushing touchdown with 2:37 remaining int he first quarter. A penalty on Malvern
(0-3) placed the ball on the
1-yard line for the 2-point attempt converted by Ferguson.
Ferguson scored again less than three minutes into the second quarter from two yards out. Senior Josh Hixson kicked the point-after to give the Rams a 15-0 lead.
Another one-yard rushing touchdown by Ferguson with
3:08 left in the first half put the visiting Rams ahead, 21-0.
Malvern got on the scoreboard late in the first half on a one-yard rushing touchdown by senior quarterback Parker Freer with 21 seconds left in the second quarter. He finished the game with 105 rushing yards.
Lakeside sophomore Isaac Echols ran for 101 yards on 14 carries to go along with two receptions. Lamb finished with five catches for 116 yards and a touchdown.
The Rams recovered three fumbles in the game. Defensive back Jesus Damien recovered Malvern’s first fumble in the second quarter.
Jaxon Brannon recovered a muffed kick in the third quarter.Junior Chase Norwood recovered another fumble late in the third frame.
Lakeside lost the turnover battle in the first two games of the season, a 31-27 home loss to Lake Hamilton (3-0) and a 4027 loss at Fountain Lake (3-0). The Rams did not turn the ball over Friday.
“That fits right in with what we need to be doing,” McBride said.
Senior Aaron Killian led the Lakeside defense with 11 total tackles and seven solo tackles.
Malvern is scheduled to begin its 4A-7 conference schedule at home on Friday against Bauxite (3-0). Lakeside’s first 5A-South conference game of the season is scheduled for Friday on the road at Camden Fairview (1-2).
“Every year, we use our non-conference to try to get our team in the right position to starter conference, and we have done that,” McBride said. “I think we are ready again this year. We will have to have a good week of practice, but we are ready for conference and ready to go on the road to Camden.”