CAMDEN -- Lakeside was unable to overcome a 19-point halftime deficit as the Camden Fairview Cardinals held on for a 38-27 win at Cardinals Stadium Friday night.
The Rams (1-3, 0-1 5A-South) entered the game with six of their starters on the bench due to injuries, a fact that played into the game more than the weather.
"I had nine kids out last night," Lakeside head coach Jared McBride said. "Six of them were starters, but we've got no excuses. We've got to play."
The Cardinals (2-2, 1-0) got on the scoreboard first, scoring on a 22-yard pass from Qwaishawn Thompson to Keith Johnson in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead after the kick, but the Rams evened the score early in the second period as Devin Nieto reeled in a 13-yard pass from Taylor Gillham.
Unfortunately for the Rams, that was their only score of the half as Camden Fairview scored three more touchdowns before halftime, taking a 26-7 lead into the break.
The initial kickoff for the game was delayed by more than an hour, McBride said.
"We started our pregame right before 6 o'clock and only got about 10 minutes of it in, and they took us off the field," he said. "We didn't get back on the field until about 8:20 p.m., so really about 2 1/2 hours from when we should have been on the field, we were on the field."
Fortunately, most of the weather moved out of the area by the time the game got underway.
"The kids seemed to be able to move around on it just fine," McBride said, noting Camden Fairview also has a turf field. "The ball wasn't too wet. We had about an hour and 20 minute delay. Once we got started, it was just a light rain for us."
Sawyer Lamb accounted for a pair of Ram touchdowns in the second half, the first on a seven-yard toss from Gillham for the first points of the third frame. His second touchdown was on a 78-yard pass to end the game's scoring.
"We threw an interception toward the end of the game," McBride said. "We were trying to get back into the ballgame and threw an interception. Taylor played a good game, and Sawyer Lamb had a couple of big touchdowns for us. We've just got to get healthy and play again."
McBride said he felt the officiating in the game was subpar.
"It was the worst-officiated high school football game in Arkansas history," he said. "We battled both sides through that. The kids played well. Camden played well, and we kind of exchanged scores throughout.
"We played a pretty good ballgame. We just couldn't get back on top."
The Rams are scheduled to host Magnolia (3-1, 0-1) Friday night at Chick Austin Field. The Panthers dropped their first 5A-South game of the season, 41-7, against Texarkana (3-1, 1-0) on Saturday.
Sports on 09/23/2018