FAYETTEVILLE -- Counting the benefit game, Lakeside got its second consecutive total-team effort.
Clint Smedley threw three touchdown passes, the Rams held Lincoln to minus-7 yards in the first half and Brock Johnson blocked three first-half punts, all leading to a 36-0 victory Monday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Hootens.com Kickoff Week.
"It was a good team effort for us," Lakeside coach Jared McBride said. "We played hard on both sides of the ball. We knew it was was going to be warm, so we tried to limit our kids as much as we could on both sides. But the kids played hard and they played well. The defense played fantastic, and it makes it a whole lot easier on your offense when you're starting with short fields."
Johnson's blocked punts helped Lakeside start only three first-half drives in its territory. The opening series went 62 yards in four plays, Colt Housley's 25-yard run (followed by a late hit) lead to Smedley's 13-yard touchdown pass to Cody Cockrell.
Lakeside drove deep into Lincoln territory before stopped on downs but scored a safety with Johnson on Lincoln's next possession.
"Those were some big-time plays," McBride said. "They were big momentum changes for us, for our defense to do that and make those stops."
Overcoming a fumble, Lakeside forced a punt from its 35, which Johnson blocked and recovered up field.
The Rams scored in eight plays, aided by a pass-interference penalty on third and 24 and defensive holding on fourth-and-13. Smedley passed to Clint Westfall for the last 12 yards and a 15-0 advantage after the first quarter.
"It's hard to put your finger on one single thing," said Lincoln coach Scott Davenport, making his head-coaching debut. "It just seemed like if it could go wrong it did. Our first two punts were blocked and it just snowballed from there. Not a whole lot of good things you can take from that."
After another stop, Lakeside marched 73 yards (its longest) drive in seven plays. Smedley found Bradford for 36 yards, and Housley sneaked over from the one for 22-0 lead.
The Wolves went three-and-out again, getting sacked on third down before Johnson's final blocked punt. Set up at the 23, Beau Uzick broke a touchdown run on the next play, going up 29-0.
The Wolves finally got off a punt after their next drive, but Lakeside returned it past midfield. The Rams overcame a pair of penalties with a 46-yard catch-and-run by Conrad Carlton, setting up a 4-yard TD pass to Caleb Dean to enact the mercy rule at the half.
Lakeside outgained Lincoln 335-58, the Wolves with minus-5 yards rushing.=
"I'm really proud of coach (Ryan) Wallace and his staff for getting the kids playing hard," McBride said. "You have to tip your hat to those guys."
Smedley finished 9 of 12 for 150 yards, Bradford catching three for 65. Lakeside had nine different players catch passes and nine different ball-carriers.
The Rams face Sylvan Hills Sept. 12 in their home opener.
Lakeside;15 21 0 0 -- 36
Lincoln;0 0 0 0 -- 0
First quarter
LS -- Cody Cockrell 13 pass from Clint Smedley (kick blocked), 10:33.
LS -- Safety, 7:02.
LS -- Clint Westfall 12 pass from Smedley (Grant Gaston kick), 2:11.
Second quarter
LS -- Colt Housley 1 run (Gaston kick), 9:31.
LS -- Beau Uzick 23 run (Gaston kick), 7:37.
LS -- Caleb Dean 4 pass from Smedley (Gaston kick), 3:15.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing--Lakeside, Beau Uzick 4-37, Ryan Viscardis 8-30, Colt Housley 3-33, Cody Cockrell 1-16, Caleb Dean 2-7, Clint Smedley 5-5, Fisher Alexander 1-3, Brian McKinney 3-1, Jason Redfield 1-(-1). Lincoln, Charles Rowe 12-28, Dusty Hudson 4-9, Alec Pitts 1-1, Noah Swayne 1-0, Lane Maddox 1-(-1), Lane Phelan 2-(-2), Toby Rose 1-(-5), Harrison Swayne 3-(-21).
Passing--Lakeside, Smedley 9-12-0-150, Alexander 2-3-0-54. Lincoln, Phelan 5-8-0-55, Swayne 3-9-0-8.
Receiving--Lakeside, Maurice Bradford 3-65, Conrad Carlton 1-46, Hayden Gray 1-37, Grayson Overton 1-17, Cockrell 1-13, Clint Westfall 1-12, Blake Spilker 1-9, Dean 1-4, Uzick 1-1. Lincoln, Kaleb Ayers 6-48, Dalton Barnum 1-17, Dalton Hamby 1-(-2).
Sports on 09/02/2014