by Matt Wright
One play can change an entire game. It’s an old adage in sports but on Thursday night (8/29/19), Lakeland learned every snap counts and you have to be prepared.
After a back and forth game at Lions Field against Arlington Middle School, Lakeland drove the length of the field, led by Quarterback Hayden Kee, and scored with 51 seconds left to tie the game 30-30. The two point conversion failed (extra points are not kicked in middle school football), leaving the Lions and Tigers knotted up at 30 points a piece with only 28 seconds left in the game. After receiving the kickoff, AMS set up a pass play to the tight end dragging across the middle of the field and miscommunication in the Lions secondary allowed an AMS touchdown in the closing seconds to win the game. As Lakeland head coach Tyler White said, “two of our corners and our safety are playing their first year of football. This is only their second game to ever play. They will learn as they play more and we coach them.”
Allowing AMS to come back and win the game evened up Lakeland’s varsity record at 1-1. The JV team will play Crestview next week while the varsity plays at Fayette Academy.
Full LMPS v AMS Photo Gallery Here
… Football photos by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents
Lions Soccer Scores Hugh Victory Over W. Collierville
The Lady Lions played their first home game of the season Thursday afternoon on the beautiful LMPS campus and defeated W. Collierville 4-2. Lakeland is already becoming a strong soccer program and defeating a team from Collierville stands out for the new school. Collierville is the home to the Mike Rose soccer complex (where most big training and tournaments occur) and many of the Collierville players play club ball for the Lobos, a Collierville based premier club team. Lily Douglass led the Lions with 2 goals while Stephanie Cifuentes and Lily Curtwright added one apiece. Head Coach Megan Criner said, “the girls came together to defeat a good team.” While LMPS Principle Matt Adler added “I’m proud of our lady Lions for a tremendous victory.”
Lions Varsity Volleyball Remains Undefeated
The Lakeland Lions volleyball team remained undefeated after defeating Appling Middle School on Thursday evening at AMS. Appling won the first set (it’s the first set the varsity Lions have lost all season) but after gaining their composure, Lakeland stormed back and easily defeated the Wildcats in the 2nd set and the tiebreak set. Campbell Funk once again had a solid night at the net while Sara Bandi served beautifully. Parent Chris Brock said, “they seemed to snooze thru the first set but they woke up when it mattered.” Lakeland plays W. Collerville and Millington next week in their bid to remain undefeated.
