Two big plays in the second half were the difference as Lake Forest won its season opener over Odessa 18-14. The first was a 71-yard run up the middle by senior fullback Ayden Young in the third quarter to pull the Spartans within two points. The winning touchdown came with 4:54 to go in the game when Jackson Parson found Ne’Von Pierce open in the middle of the field for 49 yards and the score.
The home team Odessa Ducks scored on their first possession of the night. Following a wind aided punt, the Ducks began the drive at the Lake 18-yard line. Five plays later, Chase Belin scored from a yard out and Jackson Matyger booted the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
The Spartans put together an impressive drive that led to a 4-yard touchdown run by Young, but the conversion failed leaving Odessa ahead 7-6 with 6:30 left in the half. On the ensuing kickoff, Odessa took over at the Lake 41 after a “botched” attempt by the Spartans. That led to a 9-play drive that began with 7 consecutive running plays by Belin and Isaiah Melton. Then the Ducks went to “the air” on the next two plays. Junior QB M-J Kusman threw a perfect pass to Elijah Starkey in traffic to the one. The Ducks quickly went without a huddle and Kusman passed to Kasai Truitt for the score with just over a minute to go. Matyger’s kick sent Odessa into the locker room up 14-6.
The second half belonged to Lake Forest. The Spartans defense shut out the Odessa offense and scored on two long plays to get the win.
With 4:25 to go in the 3 rd quarter, left tackle Chase Lewis sealed off two defenders that opened a hole for Young to scamper 71 yards for the longest play of the night. Then midway through the final quarter, Parson passed to Pierce behind the secondary for the 49-yard touchdown that completed the comeback for coach Fred Johnson and the Spartans 18-14.
For Lake, Ayden Young finished with 88 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns. Sophomore Andrew White added 50 yards on the ground and played well on the defensive side of the ball. Quarterback Jackson Parson completed 5 of 7 passes for 83 yards.
Odessa was led by Chase Belin with 61 yards on 22 carries and a score. M-J Kusman passed for nearly 100 yards and a touchdown.
Most Popular
Comments / 0