South Lakes Shows Promise In Scrimmage Victory Over Hayfield

By BRIAN McNICOLL

It had been a long time since South Lakes High football coach Jason Hescock was as happy about an outcome as he was on Thursday night at Hayfield.

“It was huge,” he said after the game. “The sophomores and juniors who had to play in some big spots last year are now juniors and seniors, and it’s a big difference.”

The 14-7 victory was itself cause for celebration, but the way it happened was even more gratifying. South Lakes ran the ball – not in a way to trick the defense but in a way to grind it down, something that didn’t happen much last season.

Dalton Blakeney carried the ball 19 times in what amounted to a little more than half the game. He gained 90 yards and, although he didn’t score either touchdown, he ran tough between the tackles and had five runs that resulted in first downs.

“This is us this year,” Hescock said. “We took Dalton off of linebacker. His only job is going to be to carry the rock for us, and he’s going to do it a lot.”

Christian Wyatt, now the starting quarterback, completed 10 of 14 passes for 113 yards, including a 36-yard strike down the middle to Nate Zschunke. He also scored on a 12-yard run when he beat the defenders to the corner of the end zone.

“Christian still has to get the rust off and adjust to the faster pace of the varsity game, but he did a real good job tonight. And he has some good wheels,” Hescock said.

The Seahawks defense also provided plenty of reason for optimism. After Hayfield drove 75 yards for its only touchdown, the Seahawks clamped down, allowing minus-9 yards rushing, 68 passing – 60 of it on two plays – and providing three interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Labeeb Zaib, a senior, got burned on a long pass play on Hayfield’s scoring drive, but he got revenge one possession later with an interception deep in South Lakes territory. Cameron Soto, whom Hescock said has been a particularly bright light so far, made the second interception, also deep in South lakes territory, and the third, which he returned 41 yards into Hayfield territory.

The defense also found a way to end Hayfield drives in a way it struggled to do last season. Hayfield moved from its 30 to the South Lakes 4 on one march, but an 11-yard sack by senior Logan Legler, a top linebacker, forced Hayfield to try and miss a field goal.

“Our linebackers were moving really well, and our defensive line really clicked,” Hescock said. “Three interceptions and a fumble … that’s a lot of turnovers for one game. You can win like that.”

South Lakes showed big improvement from its first scrimmage against South County on both sides of the ball. Its offense looked more in synch, its defense stood up solidly and its special teams began to click as Nicholas Bertoni powered through his two extra-point attempts and Nick Picarelli picked up where he left off as a kick returner with a 50-yard return to start the second half.

Now the regular season begins with a home date against Yorktown. The Seahawks have not played the Patriots since 2023, when Yorktown ended South Lakes’ perfect season with a shocking 7-6 victory in the first round of the playoffs.