Kicking game a key in Lakeside's win

Lakeside stunned Evans Friday night mostly because its defense shut out an explosive opponent and its offense gained more than 300 yards.

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Rainier Ehrhardt/Staff

Ben Wilson helped Lakeside rack up more than 300 yards of offense at QB and had a 64-yard punt in a win over Evans.

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But the Panthers can also claim one of the best kicking games in the area. They averaged 45 yards per punt -- including a 64-yarder in the third quarter by quarterback Ben Wilson -- and were perfect on two extra points and one field-goal attempt.

Ben Brooks , who caught three passes for 86 yards, booted the field goal and extra points. Both Brooks and Wilson praised the defense, which earned its first shutout since a 14-0 win over Cross Creek midway through last season.

"The offense wanted to give the defense a standing ovation after the game," Wilson said.

PLAYER LOSES MOTHER: The mother of Evans defensive lineman Craig Garr passed away early Friday morning, about 16 hours before the Lakeside-Evans game. Garr played a key role on defense for the Knights in the loss.

His mother, Lorraine Suber , suffered a series of strokes earlier in the year. Garr, who played for Glenn Hills last season, had moved into Evans' district to live with his grandparents.

"He wanted to play ... it's been an emotional week for all of us," Evans coach Marty Jackson said. "We had a lot of emotion, a lot of tears shed the last three weeks."

GOOD CALL: Laney head coach Lemuel Lackey decided to switch kickers before his team's 38-25 win over Screven County. The move paid dividends.

Junior wide receiver Rod Hall , the team's new kicker, went 3 for 4 on extra points and drilled a key 32-yard field goal late in the first half.

"It worked great for us," Lackey said. "Those extra points and that field goal just kind of solidified that we're trying to be a complete football team."

Hall, who previously kicked for Laney's junior varsity team, came out late because he played a lot of basketball during the summer. Lackey said he didn't want throw too many responsibilities on Hall at once.

"We just kind of got him into the groove," Lackey said. "And he was willing to do it."

INTERESTING CALL: North Augusta's final touchdown in a 42-14 win over rival South Aiken on Friday came on a fake punt in the last minute of the game. The home team lined up in punt formation on fourth-and-9, and South Aiken didn't drop a returner back, instead opting to put all 11 men on the line in hopes of blocking the punt.

North Augusta's Vinny Miller , lined up as the punter, took the snap and ran 59 yards for a touchdown. The play call worked, but it didn't exactly smack of sportsmanship.

"I didn't call that; the kids decided that on the field," North Augusta head coach Dan Pippin said. "We're going to talk about that one. It was not the best call."

GREENBRIER WINS: Greenbrier won its first game of the season with a 27-12 win over county rival Harlem. The Bulldogs led 12-10 in the third quarter before the Wolfpack rallied for the win.

Greenbrier (1-1) plays host to Lakeside on Friday, while Harlem (0-1) begins its region schedule with a home game against Glenn Hills.

LIONS TAKE PADDLE: Augusta Christian retained possession of the paddle with a 48-19 victory over Fox Creek on Friday night in the annual Battle for the Paddle.

Augusta Christian (1-1) was led by Matt Rogers , who scored on a 57-yard run.

Trevante Robinson caught two touchdown passes to lead Fox Creek (0-2).

WILDCATS TRIUMPH: Matthew Tebbs threw two touchdown passes as Westminster topped Crisp Academy 20-7 on Friday night. It was the first football game at Westminster, which is fielding JV and middle-school teams this year.

The game was treated like a varsity contest because Crisp Academy played five seniors, according to Westminster coach Mike Hearon.

Billy Byler and Chris Gay contributed to this story.

Reach Matt Middleton at (706) 823-3425 or matt.middleton@augustachronicle.com.