Lakeside lifted by turnovers

HOT SPRINGS — Colt Housley and Maurice Bradford combined for 340 rushing yards and 9 total touchdowns, and Hot Springs Lakeside beat a Camden Fairview team that committed six turnovers 63-30 in their 5A-South opener Friday night at Austin Field.

“They’re a good football team and we knew that coming into here,” Lakeside Coach Jared McBride said. “We took advantage of some opportunities they gave us early, and to win football games in this conference, you have to do that. We have to stay in front of them, keeping the throttle down and just finishing and making plays.”

Lakeside (3-1) jumped on top 27-0 after the first quarter thanks to fumble recoveries by Josh Morton, Kelen Bland and Jack Henry Hill and one of Caden Vaughan’s two interceptions for the game (his other kept Fairview out of the end zone at the end of the first half). The Rams struck with Fisher Alexander’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Bradford and rushing touchdowns by Housley and Bradford sandwiching Bland’s 46-yard scoop-and-score to make it 21-0.

Once the Cardinals (1-3) scored early in the second quarter, Lakeside responded with a 12-play, 92-yard drive that took more than 10 minutes off the clock. The Rams’ longest drive of the season was capped by Housley’s 3-yard plunge with 16 seconds left, giving them a 34-8 halftime lead.

Ben Turner forced a fumble on Fairview’s opening possession of the second half, and Kennedy King made the recovery for Lakeside. Bradford cashed in from a yard out, pushing the lead to 40-8, and the closest the Cardinals could get was within 25 twice. Lakeside matched them the rest of the way en route to its first victory over Fairview since 1979.

Housley finished with 215 yards and 3 touchdowns on 31 carries, his second 200-yard total in as many games. Bradford rushed for 125 yards and 4 touchdowns on 21 carries and he caught 3 passes for 45 yards and a score.