Rams hang close to Central at half

LITTLE ROCK -- A surge at the end of the first half gave Lakeside optimism in the Rams' season opener Thursday night.

The Rams cashed a fumble into a touchdown in pulling within 21-16 of Little Rock Central at War Memorial Stadium.

Lakeside made something good happen from its own quarterback's only first-half blunder. Bralen Simmons intercepted Fisher Alexander, returning 37 yards to the Rams' 19, but Cavan Plite turned the ball over by fumbling a quick pitch.

Caden Vaughan scooped the loose ball and returned into Central territory. The Rams overcame their last of seven first-half penalties for 73 yards with an Alexander 41-yard pass to Kelen Bland, Maurice Bradford getting the last four yards with 11 seconds left. The extra point was blocked, leaving the score 21-16.

Lakeside recovered the ensuing kickoff but couldn't do anything with it, a 42-yard field-goal attempt landing well short.

The Rams got off to a good start with Bradford screaming off the edge on Central's second play from scrimmage, sacking Caleb Dallimore for a fumble recovered by Hunter Cross. But they could do nothing with it, and once the Tigers got the ball back, Richard Hayes broke up the middle for an 80-yard touchdown run and a 7-0 lead.

Lakeside settled down, helped by Alexander hitting Caleb Dean on a 48-yard pass. Bradford finished with a three-yard run, pulling the game even at 7 with 6:07 left in the opening quarter.

Lakeside forced a stop on the next series, but Central countered by downing the punt on the one. The Rams mixed up a 14-play drive that worked into the second quarter, taking a 10-7 lead on Garrett Tarbet's 30-yard field goal.

But the Tigers began controlling the line of scrimmage, also benefiting from good field position off Lakeside's penalties. Oscar Adaway III gave Central a 14-10 lead with a 4-yard run up the middle with 8:47 left, and following Dallimore's 8-yard scramble on fourth-and-seven from the Ram 25, Hayes scored on a 14-yard sweep with 3:15 left.

Hayes finished the first half with 118 yards on 11 carries, Alexander leading the Rams with 162 passing yards on 7 of 14.

Sports on 09/04/2015

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