08/18/2021
Lakeside displays offensive power in scrimmage against Nashville
Lakeside flexed its offensive muscle as multiple playmakers made an impact for the Rams against the Nashville Scrappers in a benefit game Tuesday night at Chick Austin Stadium.
The score was not kept during Tuesday's contest with the first half of the game in a traditional format with both varsity teams dueling it out. Special teams were not live as kickoffs and punts were not returnable while extra point attempts were uncontested.
Rams senior southpaw quarterback Jordan Mills looked composed in the first half torching the Scrapper defense on multiple occasions. However, Lakeside used a balanced attack with senior running back Chance Cross and sophomore running back Braylen Russell getting plenty of carries as well.
The Rams scored first, capitalizing on a Nashville turnover. On the Scrappers' first drive of the game, Ethan Gunter threw an interception to Lakeside's Christian Bell, and it took Mills just four plays to find Cross on a 15-yard screen pass for a touchdown.
After Nashville went three and out and scuffed a short punt, Lakeside struck quickly, Mills finding Brock Garner on the first play of the drive for a 45-yard touchdown completion.
Another stalled Nashville drive after just three downs meant Mills got the ball back in his hands.
The Scrappers sacked Mills on the first play of the drive, but the senior quarterback struck back with a 39-yard bomb to Cross to set up first and goal from the 8-yard line. The Rams' offense stalled on the next three plays before Mills connected with Russell on a 6-yard touchdown pass to cap the drive.
On the next series, Nashville attempted a fourth down conversion, but Sloan Perrin's run was stuffed by the Rams defense. Lakeside's offense got the ball back and continued its hot streak and scored yet again after the turnover on downs.
Mills shared the ball, finding Chase Cross for a 19-yard touchdown pass after evading pressure in the pocket.
The Scrappers really had trouble finding offensive rhythm in the first half, stalling on yet another three and out drive to begin the second quarter.
After a run by Russell gave the Rams a first down at their own 41, Mills found Landen Matthews for a big gain down to the Scrappers' 38.
The big plays didn't stop there for the Rams. Mills found Russell on a 38-yard pass to tack on yet another touchdown for Lakeside.
On the ensuing drive, Nashville scored its first touchdown of the game. Gunter found Elijah Harris for a 20-yard touchdown pass with 7:43 remaining in the half.
Back on offense, Chase Cross wowed the Lakeside crowd on a monster completion that saw the senior evade multiple Nashville defenders as he ran down to the 18-yard line.
The momentum was short-lived when Mills threw an interception to Alex Sullivan who set the visitors up with decent field position after a return to the Scrapper's own 48-yard line.
In a flip-flop of momentum once again, Gunter threw his second interception of the game as the Rams capitalized on the mistake in electric fashion. Chance Cross took a handoff traveling to the left side of the field and once he realized he was out of room, reversed the run to the right behind the line of scrimmage.
With plenty of ground to make up, Cross was given the gift of a big time block from Mills, whose booming hit made the crowd react in awe before Cross ran down the right sideline for a 30-yard touchdown.
The first half ended with a Nashville fumble just five yards away from the end zone.
Both teams had the opportunity to play their junior varsity squads with each getting two sets of 10 offensive plays.
It took Lakeside junior quarterback Towle Douglas all 10 plays during the Rams' first offensive possession to find Brennan Browning over the middle for an 11-yard touchdown pass.
Nashville quarterback Slade Slayton showed off impressive elusiveness in the pocket after a few scrambles and draw plays saw the Scrappers' first 10 plays stall out at the 9-yard line.
Lakeside sophomore quarterback Jacob Hermosillo led the Rams' last 10 offensive plays on the night. Hermosillo and running back Zane Garrett got Lakeside down to the 6-yard line, but Hermosillo ended the series with an incomplete pass.
The contest ended when Slayton fumbled the last offensive snap for the Scrappers.
Nashville kicks off its regular season at Pleasant Grove, Texas, on Aug. 27 while Lakeside travels to cross-county rival Lake Hamilton.
