Here are some photos from the game between Lake View and Southside Christian by Craig Brown.
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Craig Brown
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By Craig Brown
The Sabres of Southside Christian School defeated the Wild Gators of Lake View High School 46-6 Saturday at Benedict College to claim the 2020 Class 1A State Championship.
It was a game where the Sabres could do no wrong, and the Wild Gators could do no right. In my opinion, no team in 1A or 2A was 40 points better than this Lake View team. It was just one of those games. I take nothing from the Sabres they were talented and ready to play this game. I reported earlier this year that this Wild Gator team was one of the best I have seen in recent history, and I believed as did many that this would be their year to win it all. Maybe the Sabres were the best team in the history of 1A football.
The fans of Lake View and Dillon County are proud of this year’s Wild Gator team. Head Coach Daryl King and his coaching staff are to be commended for their efforts in building this program. 2020 has been a test for sports programs with COVID and game cancellations and other issues. The Lake View coaching staff and the players really worked hard to get to the final game. Only two teams make it to this game and I salute the 2020 Wild Gators team for being there.
The Sabres took the opening kickoff and four minutes and one second later quarterback Ja’Corey Martin found receiver Trey Wagner open for a nine-yard touchdown strike. The point after kick was off holding the Sabres’ lead to 6-0 with 7:59 left in the first quarter.
The Sabres stopped a good Gator-drive with an interception at the 33-yard line with 3:24 left in the first quarter.
The first quarter ended with the Sabres on the Wild Gator seven and a 6-0 lead.
On the first play of the second quarter Charlie Harof crossed the goal line from seven yards out. Michael Long added the point after kick to up the Sabres’ lead to 13-0 with 11:54 left in the second quarter.
The Sabres’ defense held the Gator offense and forced a punt.
The Wild Gator defense kept the Sabres out of the end zone and forced a field goal. Long booted the 32-yard field goal with room to spare to increase the Sabres lead to 16-0 with 7:36 left in the second quarter.
Lake View defender Michael McInnis intercepted a Sabres’ pass and with a short return had the ball at the 46-yard line. The Gator offense stalled again and punted the ball back to the Sabres.
Martin connected with receiver Will Scott for 36 yards and a touchdown. Long’s kick put the Sabres out front 23-0 with 53 seconds left in the second quarter.
With two seconds left in the first half the Sabres returned a fumble to the Lake View 25-yard line. Martin kicked the 42-yard field goal that would have been good from over 50 yards to give the Sabres a 26-0 halftime lead.
On the Sabres’ first possession of the third quarter Martin finished the drive with a 35-yard touchdown strike to TJ Goldsmith. Long’s point after kick increased the Sabre lead to 33-0 with 7:49 left in the third quarter.
Adarrian Dawkins got the Gators on the scoreboard with a 31-yard touchdown run. The conversion failed and with 4:04 left in the third quarter the Sabres held a 33-6 lead with the third quarter ending with this score.
It took the Sabres four and a half minutes to find the end zone following the Gator score with Martin and Goldsmith getting together on a five-yard touchdown-pass. Long’s kick put the Sabres lead at 40-6 with 11:27 left in the fourth quarter.
With 3:55 left in the game Goldsmith picked up his third touchdown on a four-yard run to give the Sabres a 46-6 lead. Back up kicker Isaac Masone attempted the extra point that was off to the right.
On offense for the Wild Gators,Adarrian Dawkins had 49 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown, Ja’Correus Ford had 45 yards on ten carries, and Derrick Bethea had 20 yards on six carries.
On defense Hunter Norton had eight tackles and three assists; Michael McInnis had seven tackles with an interception; Shaeed Dawkins, Adarrian Dawkins, and Arkadius Benjamin had five tackles and two assists each; Marquise Johnson, Raekwon McNeil, and Michael McDaniel had four tackles and three assists each with McDaniel getting a quarterback sack; and Braxton Dimery, Da’Correus Ford, and Jamrion Monroe had three tackles and two assists each.
The Lake View cheerleaders are to be commended for cheering with all their hearts until the very end.
2020 football is over but Coach Daryl King and his coaching staff will have the Wild Gators back in the hunt in 2021.
We thank the Wild Gators for providing us with an exciting football season.
