By Gray Haynes
Friday night, the Knights welcomed alumni and the Lakeview Gators to Baucum-Farrar Stadium for the 2026 edition of homecoming. The homecoming court was presented before the game, and then the Knights’ football team stole the show. North Webster started the game with good field position after a short kickoff went out of bounds near midfield. After big runs by quarterback, Justin Stewart, and fullback, J’Quarion Easter, and a big catch by Ja’Kayden Jackson, the Knights found themselves near the goal line at the 8. From there, Stewart found Jardin Gill for a nice screen pass and run for the touchdown. The two point conversion was no good. With 9:07 left in the first quarter, the score was 6-0. After a big defensive stand with tackles by Jeremiah Washington and River McEachern, an errant snap on the Lakeview punt gave the Knights’ offense the ball on the 2 yard line. Jackson scored on a run from there to put the Knights up 12-0 early in the 1st quarter.
After the kickoff, the Knights’ defense forced another 3 and out. The ensuing punt was returned 47 yards and touchdown by Gill, but a penalty for a blindside block brought the ball back. After a couple of big runs by Jackson, Ke’Shawn Evans followed the offensive line of Heath Hamilton, Nikea Harden, Aiden Odom, Harley Davis, and Daigan Taylor for a 2 yard touchdown. That made the score 18-0 with 1:38 left in the 1st quarter. The kickoff was muffed by Lakeview giving the Knights’ offense the ball near midfield. Stewart promptly found Jackson on a 29 yard pass. Gill took it the rest of the way to the endzone on a jet sweep around the right side. For the fourth time in the 1st quarter, the Knights heard the familiar cannon going off in the north end zone celebrating a touchdown. The score was 24-0 with just seconds left in the 1st quarter.
The Knights’ defense was stifling again forcing another 3 and out. Lakeview began the 2nd quarter with a punt. A 40 yard punt return by Gill gave the Knights’ offense the ball on the Lakeview 26. Easter ran for 10 yards on the left side. Then, he mirrored the play to the right side for a touchdown. The two point conversion was good by Jeremiah Washington to make the score 32-0 with 11:08 left in the half. After another 3 and out, a short punt by Lakeview gave the Knights the ball at the Gator’s 39 yard line. A holding penalty called back a nice run and put the Knights behind the sticks. For the first time in the game, the Knights were forced to punt. Deakan Whitlock sailed the ball toward the south endzone on the far right. The ball was downed on the 2 yard line. The Knights’ defense promptly swarmed on a Lakeview runner for a safety to make the score 34-0 with 55 seconds left in the half. The Knights, however, were not done scoring in the first half. Gill returned the free kick for 57 yards for a touchdown. Prynce Eason added the 2 point conversion with no time left on the clock to make the score 42-0.
When the second half began, the clock ran continuously. The Knights gave their younger players some time on the field and were content with the score. The Knights’ starting defense did not allow a first down, and the special teams played a huge role in securing the win for the Knights on homecoming 2026. Next week, the Knights will face off against Cedar Creek.
