Quick take
MONTGOMERY — Lake Creek’s football team had a historic campaign in its fifth year of varsity play last season.
First district championship. First playoff appearance. First playoff win. Regional quarterfinal finish.
Halfway through this regular season, the Lions might be even better.
Lake Creek rolled Randle in a battle of the undefeated, 59-34, in each team’s District 10-5A Division II opener Friday evening at Montgomery ISD Stadium to go to 5-0 overall.
Randle dropped to 4-1 overall.
It wasn’t easy for Lake Creek. It held a 28-14 lead at the half and only led by 11 with 9:41 left in the game. But the Lions scored three touchdowns in the final eight minutes, 41 seconds to win big.
“We played really well as a team,” Lake Creek coach Pat Kennedy said. “I don’t think we were perfect in a lot of places, but we’ve played really well as a team and that’s what I’ve been talking to them about the last four weeks. Sam (Lee) was Sam, Ty Ty (Byars) was Ty Ty. Eli (Morcos) came around in the second half. I’m pretty excited.”
Unofficially, Lake Creek outgained Randle 550-516 in total yards. The difference was defense. Lake Creek forced four turnovers — three fumble recoveries and an interception.
“Ultimately, we’re a very, very young team,” Randle coach Brian Randle said of his second-year varsity program. “And it showed tonight. It showed in the four turnovers. We didn’t coach very well, to be honest.”
Highlights
Randle got off to a strong start, striking first on a 70-yard scamper off a direct snap to senior receiver Cortney Brown not even four minutes into the game.
And then it looked like Lake Creek would pull away. The Lions scored three times in a matter of five-plus minutes spanning the first and second quarters on a 2-yard Byars run, a Kade Yeary 8-yard end-around and a Byars 21-yard run.
But Randle answered nicely with another Wildcat call to Brown, this time for a 21-yard score. Lake Creek countered with a 44-yard keeper from junior quarterback Eli Morcos straight up the middle for a two-score halftime lead.
Each team scored once in the third quarter. Lee tacked on a 12-yard run six seconds into the fourth quarter before Randle answered on a brilliant 78-yard spree from freshman running back Landis Callis-Williams.
Lake Creek added touchdowns from Morcos and Byars, and a 48-yard field goal from Alex Abbott. Receiver Dacorian Rubin scored on a 60-yard jaunt with 49 seconds left.
What it means
Lake Creek has won its last four games by an average of 43 points. The Lions’ slimmest defeat was a 10-point win over Angleton in Week 1.
For Randle, the game was a morale win in some ways. Randle fell to Lake Creek 47-7 last year, and consists mainly of freshmen and sophomores.
“Everything was self-inflicted. On three different third downs, we had them wrapped up. We just couldn’t finish. We’re just young.”
Quotable
“They’re No. 4 in the state for a reason,” Randle said of Lake Creek. “They’re a good football team. I tip my hat to Pat. He does a great job.”
Game balls
Byars was once again prolific and dominant with 178 yards and four touchdowns on 30 carries. He has 714 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns already this season.
Morcos completed 10 of 22 passes for 190 yards and rushed 12 times for 83 yards and three touchdowns.
Lee had five carries for 57 yards and a touchdown.
Senior linebacker Kyler Burden had an interception and fumble recovery for Lake Creek. Junior defensive back Wyatt Davis also had a fumble recovery.
Williams-Callis, who was offered by Georgia this week after not even having a handful of games under his varsity belt, led Randle with 191 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
Brown had 110 yards and two touchdowns on four carries and four catches for 90 yards.
Up next
Lake Creek plays rival Montgomery at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Montgomery ISD Stadium. The Lions are 2-3 all-time versus the Bears and won last year, 80-55, in an epic shootout.
Randle hosts Brenham at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Traylor Stadium. Randle lost to Brenham 38-22 last season.
