By Josh Beavers
For a while it seemed like the home team was going to have a magical Friday night.
Lakeside was hosting Loyola, one of the better private school football programs in the area, and the air was cool and the sun had disappeared behind the piney woods on the west side of Warrior Stadium.
The stands were full. The student section was loud. The team was clad in those crisp red uniforms, and Cooper Chase and co. were promising to put on a show for the home fans.
For a while, the promise seemed true as Chase picked up key first downs with his feet, and connected with Josh Sebald, Jordan Case, Omero Urbina, Jeremiah Maxie, and Rodney Smith on plays to march up and down the field in the first half.
Loyola was backed up against the wall after a Chase touchdown scramble made the score 14-6. The crowd erupted and the Warriors were heading for their fifth win of the year.
Then halftime came and Loyola offense clicked into gear.
Loyola scored within the first two minutes of the third quarter and the game was effectively over. Lakeside made a few mistakes and the Flyers took advantage and went on to win the game 41-14.
The loss drops Lakeside to 4-4 and 0-2 in district.
Jordan Case made some bruising runs and special catches on swing routes out of the backfield. Rodney Smith nabbed his first touchdown of the year, and Josh Sebald made a fabulous catch to set up a touchdown one play later.
The Warriors have been fighting the injury bug all season. After losing potential all-stater CJ Watts on the first possession of the season, Lakeside has been fighting to keep players healthy from week to week.
Despite the injuries and despite the losing streak, Lakeside never gave up even as Loyola added more points to their side of the scoreboard. That’s the thing about Warriors. They don’t give up. That’s true of warriors in the world and Warriors down at Lakeside.
Next week will be a test of that Warrior grit. Lakeside will be on the road over in Shreveport as they play Calvary.
The Warriors will be back at home the next week as they host Green Oaks in the final game of the regular season.
