Rams survive Trojan threat

The Sentinel-Record/James Leigh CITY CHAMPIONSHIP: Hot Springs senior running back Damien Walker (3) is stopped by Lakeside senior linebacker Reece Turner (20) and other Rams on defense Friday as the Trojans fell, 35-32, on the road at Chick Austin Stadium.
The Sentinel-Record/James Leigh CITY CHAMPIONSHIP: Hot Springs senior running back Damien Walker (3) is stopped by Lakeside senior linebacker Reece Turner (20) and other Rams on defense Friday as the Trojans fell, 35-32, on the road at Chick Austin Stadium.

Hot Springs pulled out all the stops in the first half Friday as the Trojans held a 26-21 lead over Lakeside at the half, but the Rams held on to take a 35-32 win after a battle in the second half.

The Trojans (1-9, 1-6 5A-South) pulled within 35-32 with 2:44 left in the game on a 20-yard pass for the end zone.

Lakeside (5-5, 4-3) got on the scoreboard first with a one-yard touchdown run by Will Perrigo and PAT by Hixson with 7:50 left in the first period, but Hot Springs responded with a score of its own. Quarterback Santiair Thomas carried the ball in from the seven, but Da'Shan Doss' kick was no good, leaving the Rams on top, 7-6, with 6:05 left in the first period.

Lakeside's defense scored the Rams' next two touchdowns with Dorecus Ferguson recovering a fumble in the end zone following a punt down to the 1 to put the Rams up, 14-6, after another successful Hixson kick with 4:05 left in the first.

John Fuller blocked a punt by Hot Springs' TaDarious Renfore, and Ryan Pelt picked it up, carrying the ball in for the score to put the Rams back up 21-20 after a pair of touchdowns by the Trojans.

The Trojans managed to take the momentum out of the half with a seven-yard touchdown run by Thomas with 2:22 remaining in the half, but he was taken down on the conversion play for the 26-21 lead.

Lakeside quarterback Taylor Gillham found Keelan Fleming on a 21-yard pass for the end zone with 9:28 left in the third period. Josh Hixson's kick made it 28-26.

The Rams will play next week in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs. Hot Springs ends its season with the loss.

Sports on 11/03/2018

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