Great Job LHS! And a huge thanks to those who coordinated the surprise "black out" uniforms. They looked GREAT!
C.J. Marshall jumped up and down during pregame warm-ups and was the loudest voice in Panthers Stadium as fans began to trickle in.
Back in the spring, Marshall and teammate Kyle Tudor said they stood behind embattled coach Jody Grooms and would try to win the first two games for him.
The Panthers managed a split by beating Greenbrier 14-7 in their home opener Friday.
Grooms will return next week against Glenn Hills to a team with a 1-1 record.
"This has been the most stressful two weeks of my life," said assistant coach Jarrett Troxler, who was given the task of leading the team in Grooms' absence. "I love coach Grooms to death. I couldn't drop two in a row."
Grooms was suspended the first two games of the season after running an illegal play last season against South Effingham.
The Panthers won Friday by shutting down the Wolfpack offense in the second half, allowing coach Brian Smith's team only one first down and forcing a key turnover in the third quarter that led to the go-ahead score.
Troxler credited new defensive coordinator John Creager for adjustments made at halftime. It was a sharp contrast to a week before, when the Panthers held Evans scoreless the first two quarters only to lose by allowing three second-half touchdowns.
"We didn't play the best we could (against Evans) and look what happened," Tudor said. "If we do what we're supposed to, we should be fine."
Troxler said the Panthers had been "smacked in the mouth" the week before and wanted to prove they could run the ball.
Lakeside carried 35 times for 225 yards and controlled the clock in the second half.
Panthers quarterback Chad Chandler provided the game's most exciting play, breaking free from the 'Pack near midfield and racing 49 yards down the right sideline before diving into the end zone for a score.
The Wolfpack had trouble kick-starting their tandem of Bryan Andrews, Kendrick Wilson and D.J. Hall. Greenbrier ran for more than 300 yards the week before against Harlem. But Friday, with Wilson back from a concussion suffered in Week 1, the Wolfpack were held to 3.1 yards a carry.
The Wolfpack were also done in by a third-quarter turnover. Quarterback Blake Ross' third-down pass went through the hands of receiver Ben Turner and was snatched by Lakeside's Michael Paul, who returned it to the Greenbrier 15. Lakeside punched in the go-ahead score three plays later.
Greenbrier's focus now shifts to its upcoming Region 2-AAAA schedule after finishing 1-2 against their Columbia County rivals.
"They're rival games, so they were important to us," Smith said. "Now, it's us and everybody in Atlanta."
Reach Stephen Fastenau at (706) 863-6165 ext. 116 or stephen.fastenau@augustachronicle.com.
LAKESIDE 14, GREENBRIER 7
Greenbrier 0 7 0 0 -- 7
Lakeside 0 7 7 0 -- 14
Second quarter
G--Bryan Andrews 5 run (Tyler Griffin kick) 10:21
L--Chad Chandler 49 run (Michael Combs kick) 4:12
Third quarter
L--Chris Hartfield 2 run (Combs kick) 6:01
G ........ L
First Downs 10 10
Rushes-Yards 32-100 35-225
Passing Yards 71 0
Comp.-Att.-Int. 9-14-1 3-8-1
Fumbles-Lost 2-0 0-0
Punts-Yards 7-30.3 7-34.3
Penalties-Yards 5-40 5-65
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Greenbrier: Blake Ross 13-30, Kendrick Wilson 7-36, Andrews 8-25, Dylan Turner 2-7, D.J. Tyson 2-2. Lakeside: C.J. Marshall 17-104, Chandler 11-84, Hartfield 3-18, Michael Paul 2-14, Deandre Dismuke 2-5.
PASSING--Greenbrier: Ross 9-14-1 71. Lakeside: Chandler 3-8-1 0.
RECEIVING--Greenbrier: T.D. Davis 5-47, Andrews 2-17, Turner 1-10, Tyson 1- -3. Lakeside: Matt Kolar 1-3, Levi Hanks 1-0, Rosbie Mutcherson 1-(-3).
PLAY OF THE GAME: Lakeside quarterback Chad Chandler appeared corralled on a second-quarter run, but he escaped from the 'Pack and took off down the right sideline for a 49-yard touchdown to tie the game.
WHY LAKESIDE WON: The Panthers' defense shut down the Wolfpack in the second half, allowing only one first down and turning a turnover into the go-ahead touchdown.
WHY GREENBRIER LOST: The Wolfpack couldn't establish a rhythm with their running game. They torched Harlem the week before but managed 3.1 yards a carry against the Panthers.
STAR OF THE GAME: Panthers defensive back Michael Paul sat some of the second half after getting a little banged up, but his third-quarter interception led to Lakeside's go-ahead touchdown.
NEXT: Lakeside vs. Glenn Hills at 7:30 p.m. Friday; Greenbrier is off.
Comments
Great Job LHS! And a huge thanks to those who coordinated the surprise "black out" uniforms. They looked GREAT!
Didn't Grooms' suspension arise from his training his players to run an illegal play which they, in fact, ran on the final play of a close game against South Effingham last season? And, please, don't use the word "honor" in any sentence containing reference to the LHS coach or any other LHS official who allowed him to retain employment at what was once, under the leadership of Julius McAnally, the premiere regularly-populated high school in east central Georgia.
Wow Spinks - How long do you want to hold that grudge? The article states the PLAYERS wanted to honor Grooms - not you, or your opinion. It is those like you that are motivating the LHS players to want to Honor their coach even more. Those players spend a lot of time with Grooms and thus their opinion of him will not be shaped by those outside looking in with pointed fingers. In fact, your pointed fingers will have the opposite effect! Please just let them have this moment without your ridicule and negativity. It's time for you to move on.
Some folks can't let the past go. Looks like spinks falls in that group. Congrats to LHS. They are continuing to improve. You could see it starting to happen last year. They lost a tough one last week that could have gone either way. This game wasn't as close as the score indicated. LHS had a first and 10 on the GB one yard line and took a knee rather than punching in another score. Good luck to GB, they now have to compete in a tough 5A region. They may struggle to win any more games this year.
Im just glad lakeside is finally putting those jerseys to good use. LHS has been more worried about what the uniforms look like rather than how they play. They have been the worse team in the region the past couple of years now, but they have looked good doing it. Good job at beating a greenbrier team that is very unexperienced this year and good luck at trying not to have another losing season.
and I agree with spinks. Why honor a coach that got suspended for CHEATING? It seems as though the only people that are supporting this (the coach cheating) are the people from lakeside. If this had happend at Greenbrier or Evans, this coach would have been removed. But once again Lakeside sits atop their high horse and think they can do whatever they want.
Dude Space Prophet do you not remember last year Greenbrier also cheated and had to forfiet 2 games because there coach willingly played ineligable players and he was not fired or suspended any games he just stepped down afterwords. Also stop beating a broken drum the play was LAST YEAR let it go!! Oh and about being the worst team in the region that belongs to ARC.
Never-the-less. The Greenbrier coach is not coaching anymore; and you must be naive to think that he "stepped down" willingly. He was either going to be fired or he would have to leave and to save himself of the embarrasement of being fired, he left. Im not the only one not letting it go, most of columbia county (except lakeside) isnt letting it go because the punishment did not fit the crime. By letting the coach still coach makes it look as if lakeside condones cheating, which I wouldnt be suprised if they actually did.
He stepped down as coach after the penalty was given to him so you must be naive because you dont know what your talking about. Also to let you know greenbriers old coach is still coaching he got another coaching job in georgia so why is he not getting suspended from coaching know the facts before you open your mouth.
Let me clarify, I meant he is not coaching a Greenbrier anymore. If you know the facts, why did you change your story. At first you say "he was not fired or suspended any games". They you say he "stepped down as coach after the penalty was given to him". Everyone was angry at Greenbrier, including lakeside, that they cheated. But since lakeside cheated, they dont see the big deal, and defend him for it.
I did not change my story. Also it doesnt matter he is still coaching and recieved no penalty for it. I was telling you that he stepped down as head coach after the penalty was handed down in the second coment in the first i still said he stepped down but did not say when.
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