MANSFIELD – It came down to the wire in the District 10-5A opening as Mansfield Lake Ridge (3-1,1-0) held firm and dispatched Lancaster (2-2, 0-1) 24-20 in front of a homecoming crowd inside Vernon Newsom Stadium.
Using the old bend but don’t break mentality, the Lake Ridge defense was able to withstand the efforts of the Lancaster offense as a first and goal from the 8-yard line quickly turned into a 4th & goal from the 12-yard line with 1:18 left to play down with Lancaster down 24-20 and in a tight spot.
Quarterback Trevor Hatton, who finished with 170 passing yards and two touchdowns, was looking to make it three as he threw to his receiver in the end zone but saw the ball bounce off the receiver and fall harmlessly in the end zone which helped Lake Ridge milk the remaining time and seal the victory.
Photo by Charlton Gladden, TexasHSFootball.com
Lancaster was sitting high and practically in cruise control as the Tigers jumped to an early 14-0 lead in the first quarter to begin the game.
Lancaster pounced early but undeterred by their district foe, Mansfield Lake Ridge suddenly caused Lancaster to hit the brakes and come to a screeching halt as defensive back David Wilson intercepted a Trevor Hatton ball and returned it for a touchdown from 17 yards out to put Lake Ridge on the board for the first time on the night in the second quarter.
David Wilson’s interception return for a touchdown would be the spark that ignited the Lake Ridge scoring in the second quarter as Lake Ridge was able to rattle off 21 points in the quarter and take the lead for the first time on the night prior to halftime.
It took Lake Ridge four offensive drives before the offense was able to get on the board as the Eagles’ first four drives resulted in a punt, a fumble, an interception and a punt. After the Lake Ridge defense forced a turnover on downs on Lancaster’s ensuing drive after the Lake Ridge pick six, Lake Ridge quarterback Chandler Rogers hit Malik Knowles from 20-yards out to tie the game at 14 with 3:27 left before the half.
Lancaster responded with a drive that started at their 25 that was led by running back Davante Lacy. Lacy ran for 58 yards on the scoring drive that culminated in a 2-yard run to the end zone that gave Lancaster a 20-14 edge with 1:54 remaining in the half.
Lake Ridge would pull the momentum rug right out from under Lancaster however as senior quarterback Jason Bean dialed up long distance to receiver Malik Knowles and got the 62-yard touchdown that put Lake Ridge up 21-20 with 44 seconds left to play in the half.
The combined efforts of Rogers and Bean proved to be a vital factor in the victory for Lake Ridge as both were able to play off the strengths of each other.
“They both started out a little bit slow but then they both really played well and those guys compliment each other. Their character and attitudes are awesome. Jason [Bean] has a lot of strengths and Chandler [Rogers] has a lot of strengths and when you put them together you got a pretty good crew. Those two guys get along really well and do a great job for our team,” said Lake Ridge head coach Kirk Thor. “It worked out well for us, they got into a rhythm and we got rolling so it was really good.”
Photo by Charlton Gladden, TexasHSFootball.com
The defense would once again spark the offense in the second half as Lake Ridge was able force a turnover on downs and give Lake Ridge the opportunity to score again. Lake Ridge drove up the field and was able to give kicker Jacob Meeks the chance to hit a field goal from 34-yards out that increased the score to 24-20.
Lake Ridge finished with 499 total yards on the night and even though Lancaster was able to keep within striking distance the entire second half especially after a Lorando Johnson interception in the third quarter, failed fourth down conversions would come back later to haunt Lancaster.
“Well I think our defense stepped up and made some big plays and that last series of the game especially, that sealed it. We had some really good stops on fourth down and I was really proud of our defense stepping up.”
“Offensively I thought we did some things well at times but we got to get better. We had a lot trips inside the red zone without points and we got to fix that,” said Thor.
Both Chandler Rogers and Jason Bean threw for touchdowns while Rogers rushed for an additional 127 on the ground with running back Cartraven Walker rushing for 118 as well. Malik Knowles led all receivers with 117 yards and two touchdowns with both of them providing momentum swings to Lake Ridge.
“The best thing in the world is to see the faces of our kids when they win and they feel good about how they played. It’s great to have a crowd out here…Lake Ridge is an awesome place. I’m really just proud of our kids. It’s fun to see them enjoy themselves when they win cause they earn it and they’re great kids!”
Feature Photo by Charlton Gladden, TexasHSFootball.com
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