Dreadnaughts Escape Eagles in Second Overtime, 30-27
Sat. October 20, 2012 at 12:02 a.m. | By Polk Preps Staff
LAKELAND'S ISAIAH WALKERÂ scores the game-winning touchdown in double overtime against George Jenkins on Friday night. (Photo by SCOTT WHEELER | THE LEDGER )
By DICK SCANLON
LEDGER CORRESPONDENT
LAKELAND | Isaiah Walker ran 10 yards for the winning touchdown in the second overtime Friday night as Lakeland stayed undefeated and took command of the district race with a 30-27 victory over rapidly improving George Jenkins.
Walker's 74-yard run on the first play of the game helped Lakeland (8-0, 3-0) take an early 10-0 lead, in what then seemed like an easy victory before about 4,000 fans at Bryant Stadium.
It turned out to be anything but easy for the Dreadnaughts, who gained only two first downs after the first quarter.
"We started out moving the ball, but penalties killed us in the second half and we got behind the 8-ball," said Lakeland head coach Bill Castle. "We knew they had a good defense. Our defense played tough, too, and we didn't turn the ball over."
LaDarrian Bowman's 61-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter sparked a big comeback by the Eagles (3-5, 1-1), who can make the Class 7A playoffs with victories in their two remaining district games.
The Eagles tied the game, 10-10, on Chandler Jones' 38-yard field goal just before halftime.
A defensive play provided the Dreadnaughts with their only points of the second half. Jalen Stevenson, who also had two sacks in the game, picked up a fumble at the Jenkins 19-yard line and scored to put Lakeland back on top, 17-10.
But Jenkins tied it again early in he fourth quarter on a 5-yard run by Trent Rains.
Rains caught a fourth-down pass from Jaylen Odum to pull the Eagles even again in the first overtime, but a sack by Josef Mayer forced Jenkins to kick another field goal in the second overtime.
Walker, who finished with 118 rushing yards on 10 carries, found an opening on the first play of the second overtime and ran it in for the winning TD.
"Sometimes when you have a great tradition like Lakeland, that tradition kicks in for you and it can the football game for you," said George Jenkins coach Eric Gallon. "That might have been what happened to us tonight, and we're trying to get there."
The Eagles play Ridge in another district game at home next week. Lakeland has an open date before playing at Ridge on Nov. 2.
George Jenkins 0 10 0 7 7 3 -27
Lakeland 10 0 7 0 7 6 -30
First Quarter
L - Robert Smith 10 run (Caleb Hough kick), 9:20.
L - Field goal Caleb Hough 30, 26.6.
Second Quarter
J - LaDarrian Bowman 61 punt return (Chandler Jones kick), 4:36.
J - Field goal Chandler Jones 38, 1.4.
Third Quarter
L - Jalen Stevenson 19 fumble recovery (Caleb hough kick), 9:56.
Fourth Quarter
J - Trent Rains 5 run (Chandler Jones kick), 8:30.
First Overtime
L - Jacquan Foster 5 pas from Isaiah Walker (Caleb Hough kick).
J - Tre t Rains 5 pass from Jaylen Odum (Chandler Jones kick).
Second Overtime
J - Field goal Chander Jones 28.
L - Isaiah Walker 10 run.
GJ | L
First downs 9 6
Rushes/yards 32/36 38/193
Passing 15/21/1 7/11/0
Passing yards 110 44
Total yards 136 237
Fumbles/lost 4/2 1/0
Punts/avg. 4/44.5 7/37.4
Penalties/yards 8/70 15/156
Records 3-5 8-0
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing
Jenkins - Trent Rains 14 for 44. Lakeland - Isaiah Walker 10 for 118.
Passing
Jenkins - Jaylen Odum 15 for 21, 1 int., 110 yards. Lakeland - Isaiah Walker 7 fr 11, 44 yards.
Receiving
Jenkins - Lovester Marshall 5 for 39. Lakeland - Shaquan Perkins 3 for 17.
