Story courtesy of LMPS (Lakeland Middle Preparatory School)
Photos by Bob Fencl, video by Billy Kee
The smoke billowed from the tunnel as the Lakeland Lions ran onto the field on a chilly Thursday night (10.18.18), but the cold weather was the farthest thing from the minds of the players as they broke through the run through banner prior to kickoff.
“They came out focused and ready to play,” stated Head Coach Tyler White. “I think the off week was really good for us mentally. We came out with more energy than we have all year.”
It showed as the Lions controlled the game from start to finish beating the Fayette Academy Vikings 40-22 in the first annual Paradise Grill Bowl.
Link to video courtesy of LMPS parent Billy Kee: https://vimeo.com/296049818
Link to Google album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/g5q9TTNXi73vboaC9
Quarterback Hayden Kee found a wide open Jackson Hair for a 42-yard strike on the first play from scrimmage which set up a two-yard run from Kee to make the score 6-0 less than a minute into the game. On the ensuing possession, Kee picked off a Viking pass and returned it inside the Fayette twenty yard line which set up a quick second score. Kee this time found Brady Garlock alone in the back corner of the end zone and before the crowd had time to grab some Paradise Grill BBQ eggrolls, the Lions were already up 12-0.
The Lions forced a punt on the next possession, and went right back to work as Kee found Jackson Hair again, this time for an 11-yard touchdown pass which took the score to 18-0 early in the second quarter. A broken play led the the first Viking touchdown of the night, but the Lions answered in a big way scoring on the last play of the first half. As was the trend for the night, Kee found Hair again for a long gain which set up another rushing touchdown for the quarterback, this time from 24 yards out as the clock hit zeroes. The Lions took a 24-6 halftime lead and never looked back.
Early in the second half, a steady dose of runs from Jackson Hair and Carter Wood led to a physical touchdown run from Wood. Center and guard Reid Comstock and Walker Funk paved the way for Wood from three yards out. Kee added the two-point conversion and the lead grew to 32-6.
It didn’t take long for the Lions to strike again as safety Connor Oliphant picked off a Viking pass and returned it out across the 50. Running back by committee was the theme for the next drive as several different Lions touched the ball before Harrison Jones punched in a touchdown run from four yards out.
Cole Leaptrot added the two-point conversion, and the lead reached its largest of the night at 40-6. The Vikings added two touchdowns in the final two minutes of the game, but the celebration had already begun on the Lakeland sideline. The final horn sounded, and the Lions had done exactly what they came to do: Win the last game.
The most outstanding defensive player of the game was Carter Wood. Wood led the team in tackles, had two tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble. The most outstanding offensive player was Jackson Hair. Hair only found the end zone once, but led the team with over 100 yards receiving and rushing. The MVP of the Paradise Grill Bowl was Hayden Kee who left his finger prints all over the game. Kee threw for over 100 yards and two touchdowns, ran for two touchdowns, and had a huge interception on the defensive side of the ball.
“It’s a huge win for this program. Our goal this year was to take a step forward from last year, and we did just that,” said Coach White. “It’s a true testament to how hard these kids have worked this season.”
