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The Drew Central Junior Pirates would welcome the Lakeside Junior Tigers on Thursday night at Mike Pennington Stadium for a home conference contest.
The Junior Pirates would win the opening coin toss and elected to receive the ball to get the game underway.
After a seven yard return on the kickoff, the Pirates would begin the first drive of the game from their own 37 yard line.
Drew Central would move the ball into Lakeside territory but the drive would end after Ryder Birch’s pass would be intercepted at the Lakeside 40 for a six yard return to the Lakeside 46.
After moving the ball into Junior Pirate territory, a false start penalty would move the ball back to the Lakeside 47.
On the next play, the Lakeside running back would break free for a 53 yard touchdown and a two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.
After forcing Drew Central to punt, the Junior Tigers would score a second touchdown with 4:08 remaining in the half to take a 14-0 lead.
Drew Central would get on the board with 42 seconds remaining in the half on a three yard run by Ashton Govan.
The two-point conversion was not successful with the Junior Pirates trailing 14-6.
Lakeside would have on final possession before the half with the drive ending on an interception by Blayze Pevey who had a 19 yard return before being stopped as the half ended.
Lakeside would receive the ball to begin the second half and would begin the second half with a 72 yard touchdown return to extend the lead to 20-6.
Lakeside would attempt an onside kick on the kickoff, but would kick the ball right at Beckett Lawson who made the in air catch to give the Junior Pirates possession on the 50.
Javion Lewis would gain five yards on the first carry of the second half with EJ Lewis moving the ball to the Lakeside 18 on the next carry.
After a one yard gain to the 17 and an offside penalty by Lakeside put the ball on the 12, Birch would connect with Cam Sanders for the 12 yard touchdown pass.
Sanders would add the two-point conversion to cut the lead to 20-14.
The Junior Pirates defense would force Lakeside to turn the ball over on downs on their next possession with Drew Central taking over at their own 40.
After an incomplete pass and a run for no gain, Birch would connect with Sanders for a 32 yard gain to the Lakeside 28.
EJ Lewis would take the ball in from the 28 for the Junior Pirate touchdown.
After being penalized for too many players on the field, the Junior Pirates would move back to the eight yard line and the two-point attempt.
Sanders would take the snap and would run in for the two-point conversion to give the Junior Pirates their first lead of the contest 22-20 as the third quarter came to a close.
Sanders would kick the ball off to begin the fourth quarter with the Junior Tigers gaining possession at the Lakeside 49.
Lakeside would receive a penalty for too many men on the field to move the ball back to the 44, and after three plays, the Junior Tigers would punt the ball away with 4:51 remaining in the contest with Govan returning the punt back 29 yards to begin the drive at the Junior Pirate 49.
After a penalty by Lakeside moved the ball into Junior Tiger territory to the Lakeside 46.
Sanders would take the snap for a three yard gain to the 43, and on the next play Sanders would break free for a 43 yard touchdown run.
The two-point conversion was not successful as the Junior Pirates increased the lead to 28-20 with 3:35 remaining in the contest.
Lakeside would take the Junior Pirate kickoff at their own two yard line and would get a 16 yard return to the Lakeside 18.
Lakeside would move the ball into Junior Pirate territory but the Junior Pirate defense would hold the Junior Tigers off, forcing Lakeside to turn the ball over on downs.
Birch would down the ball twice to end the game with the Junior Pirates taking the 28-20 win.
Drew Central will return to action on Thursday, October 16, travelling to Rison to face the Junior Wildcats with the 7th grade starting at 5:30 pm and the Junior High kicking off at 7 pm.
