Rams try to avoid letdown at Magnolia

After beating Camden Fairview in football for the first time since 1979, Lakeside tries not to dwell in the past in tonight's 5A-South game against Magnolia. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Panther Stadium.

"We've tried to transition as fast as we can on to the next one to get ready to play a good Magnolia team," said Lakeside coach Jared McBride. "I haven't seen that (letdown) out of our kids, and I haven't seen it in quite awhile. I wouldn't think we'd go out and play any differently than how we've been."

Lakeside (3-1) comes off its first conference-opening win since 2006, 63-30 over visiting Fairview. Magnolia (2-2), winning 42-10 at White Hall, is 1-0 in the league for the first time since 2009.

"It was something our kids and our program needed," Magnolia coach John Panter said. "It had been awhile since we had gotten off to a 1-0 start in the conference, and that was a big one to pick up."

The Rams are trying to end a two-year playoff absence after three consecutive appearances. The Panthers have missed the last four seasons (going 0-10 in 2012) following seven straight berths from 2004-10.

"I think they're playing better," McBride said. "If you watch them on film, I think they're getting better every week. They did good things last week against White Hall. It never really was much of a football game. You know that they have a lot of confidence, and we have to go in and establish ourselves early. Then we have to play a four-quarter game."

Lakeside returns to the top 10 in Class 5A behind a high-octane offense, averaging 52.5 points per game (second in the state). The Rams lost at Sylvan Hills following their 44-42 triumph over 7A Little Rock Central, but it was 62-54 against the state's top scoring attack (54 per game).

"We've been playing really hard, and that's the main thing," McBride said. "They've been competing hard, trying to do what they've been coached to do. They've been a lot of fun to watch."

After two of McBride's three playoff teams featured standout passing attacks, these Rams are scoring behind a powerful ground game churning out 306.3 yards per game. The sixth-year coach credits his offensive linemen for coming out and attacking every defender who tries to stand in front of them.

"They're doing a really good job," McBride said. "They're easy to coach, and they're able to handle a lot of changes up front. They handle a lot of things on their own, and they're doing a really good job."

The primary benefactor is senior Colt Housley, 5A-South's leading rusher at 752 yards and nine touchdowns (188 yards per game). He's coming off back-to-back 200-yard performances, running for 223 yards and three scores against Fairview.

"He's done a really good job," McBride said. "He's a tough, physical runner. I'm just excited to see him grow and continue to get better."

McBride is glad Housley is tough, needing to get him ready to play following 66 carries the past two weeks.

Magnolia's offense features many playmakers surrounding junior quarterback Parker Ribble. A starting safety last year, Ribble was pressed into offensive signal calling after two-year starter Kyron Sanders transferred to Class 5A second-ranked Little Rock Christian.

"Our quarterback situation is in great hands," Panter said. "We've been very efficient on offense, and we're playing Parker Ribble, who started as a sophomore as a safety. So it wasn't like we put somebody in there who doesn't have any varsity experience starting before. We're very confident we have improved in that position."

While Lakeside has more rushing yards than the Panthers' total offense, eight Magnolia players have carried the ball and eight have multiple receptions. Mikosky Jones is Magnolia's leading rusher with 178 yards on 24 attempts, and Nile Cooper has flashed versatility with 30 runs for 126 yards and eight catches for 113 yards and two scores.

Magnolia also has home-field advantage, Lakeside's only win in Columbia County coming in 2011 when the 10-2 Rams prevailed 13-0.

"It's a tough place to play year in and year out," McBride said. "It'll be challenging for us to go down and get a win, but it'll just take some consistency from us."

Sports on 10/02/2015

Upcoming Events