'Gritty, Scrappy' South Lakes Heads To Robinson For Week 2 Clash

By BRIAN McNICOLL

South Lakes High football coach Jason Hescock said he thinks this team is emerging as a “gritty, scrappy” kind of squad that can find its way through tough times and emerge victorious.

That certainly seemed to be the case last week when the Seahawks came from 14 points down in the fourth quarter to defeat Yorktown, 29-28, in their season opener. The defense got key stops, the offense dominated with long scoring drives, and the misfortune for once happened to the other team when a short field goal attempt hit the upright with 37 seconds left to preserve South Lakes’ victory.

This week, the Seahawks take their show on the road to Robinson High, which did not play in Week 1. This is the fourth straight year the Rams and Seahawks have met in the pre-district portion of the schedule, and it is South Lakes’ turn to prevail in the back-and-forth series.

Last year, the teams played to a 6-6 draw in the first half. But in the third quarter, South Lakes allowed two touchdowns in 90 seconds thanks to a failed fake punt attempt and a fumble on the kickoff after the ensuing touchdown, and Robinson went on to win, 27-6.

More than two quarters of terrific defense and missed opportunities on offense – the Seahawks had three promising drives end with field goal attempts, one of which missed – were washed away in one 90-second stretch. “I think about the missed opportunities in that game,” Hescock said. “We should’ve been up 21-0, and we got six points out of it.”

Last year, Robinson limited South Lakes to 89 yards rushing and 83 passing, and Hescock said to expect the same level of speed and physicality from the Robinson defense this year. But there are signs the South Lakes offense is better able to overcome.

Asked who popped out on film, Hescock pointed to junior quarterback Christian Wyatt, who passed for 193 yards and the winning touchdown and also ran for a score. “He made a lot of really good decisions,” Hescock said. “He kept us going.”

He had help from a largely new group of receivers led by veteran Nick Picarelli, who had five catches for 35 yards, and newcomer Henry Strickland, a junior who made five catches for 41 yards, all in the second half against Yorktown.

Also against Yorktown, Dalton Blakeney rushed for 104 yards and accounted for 16 points with two touchdown runs and a two-point conversion. Blakeney has been a tough, explosive back for South Lakes for two years, but he has emerged as a bigger and stronger version as a senior.

Aside from Wyatt and senior Nathan Zschunke, who had two catches for 42 yards against Yorktown,, all the names Hescock mentioned as to who had stood out on film were on defense.

Sophomore defensive back Joshua Dagbe “was phenomenal,” Hescock said. “He erases people. He’s locking down a side of the field.”

Logan Legler, a senior linebacker, “was all over the field,” Hescock said. And Cameron Soto “did a real good job on his side,” the coach said.

A high-scoring shootout probably isn’t in the works, Hescock said. “They’re big and physical on defense, and they are old fashioned in a way on offense. Lots of I formation, twins, ground and pound offense. On top of that, they are well coached. They will have answers for our answers, and we’ll have to respond.”

The Seahawks themselves had drives of 9, 10 and 15 plays.

Hescock said the team’s theme has become: “Find a way.” The Seahawks hope they can do exactly that on Friday night.