Lakeside suffers midseason setback to No. 5 Texarkana
Lakeside failed to break Texarkana’s undefeated record Friday and fell, 48-14, in a 5A-South conference game at Chick Austin Field.
The Rams (2-4, 1-2) had opportunities early, but the Razorbacks (5-1, 3-0) were more efficient and more dangerous with their chances. Texarkana entered the game ranked No. 5 in Class 5A in the most recent Arkansas Sports Media High School Football Poll.
Lakeside took an early lead on a nine-yard rushing touchdown by sophomore running back Isaac Echols. The extra point gave Lakeside a 7-0 advantage.
Echols had 11 attempts for 39 yards and the touchdown. Senior Dorecus Ferguson had nine carries for 35 yards.
“I think Texarkana’s a really good football team,” said Lakeside head coach Jared McBride. “I think they came out and kind of took it to us a little bit up front. We took the opening drive and scored, and it must’ve made them mad. They’re a really good football team and you’ve got to give them credit.”
Echols had three catches for 21 yards, Richard Gaston collected one for 25. Sawyer Lamb had two for 21 yards and Will Perrigo added one for 15 as multiple Lakeside receivers battled injuries throughout the game.
Texarkana tied the game, 7-7, after blocking a punt and returning it for a touchdown.
Lakeside failed to find the end zone again until the fourth quarter, as freshman quarterback Will Ross connected on a 10-yard pass to Ty Davis to set the final. Davis had three catches for 37 yards and the touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The Rams were unable to slow down the Razorbacks’ running game in the first half as Cameron Collier scored two rushing touchdowns in the first half alone.
With 9:14 left on the clock in the second quarter, Collier took it to the house on an 87-yard rushing touchdown to bring the score 21-7. Torie Blair then scored on a 31-yard run with 3:48 left in the first half.
Lakeside trailed, 28-7, at halftime. The Rams marched down to the Hogs’ 4-yard line to start the third quarter until Collier intercepted a pass attempt on fourth-and-goal and returned it 97 yards for a touchdown.
“We had the ball inside the 10yard line three different times and couldn’t get it in the end zone, just couldn’t put it in,” McBride said.
Senior quarterback Taylor Gillham was 10-for-23 for 148 yards with two interceptions for the home team.
Lakeside fumbled on the next drive as Texarkana’s Michael Daniels successfully recovered the ball with 4:54 left in the third quarter. The Razorbacks dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
“They’re new in our conference,” said McBride. “They just dropped down from 6A and they’re a really good team … they’re one of the better teams in our classification. We’ve got to play tough ones every week.
Texarkana more than doubled Lakeside’s offensive output. The Rams have struggled with injury issues throughout the season and faced another round of issues on Friday.
“We got beat up,” McBride said. “We’ll see, but we’ve got a bunch of kids out right now.”
Lakeside will be on the road Friday to meet the Hope Bobcats (1-5, 1-2) for a conference game.