In Oct. 9-15 Issue
By Derek Aaron
Times Journal Sports Editor

The Russell County Lakers (2-4, 1-1 in district play) fell to the host Wayne County Cardinals (3-2) on Friday night by a score of 35-27.

The Lakers struggled in the second half but managed to score late in the final quarter as senior quarterback Bryon Ellis found wideout Taylor Hutchison to put them within one score of the Cardinals, but it was too late for the big blue.

Both teams went scoreless in the first quarter of action, trading punts and field position without either taking advantage.

Wayne County’s quarterback, Zack Stephenson, scored on a 45-yard run in the second quarter which was soon answered by a 5-yard touchdown run by Laker Chad Beard, which put the Lakers up 7-6.

Russell County would score again in the quarter when Jeron Hammond caught an Ellis pass for a 27-yard touchdown.

The Lakers would lead the Cardinals by a halftime score of 14-6.

The Lakers came out of the intermission flat and saw Wayne County get back-to-back scores, a 10-yard Stephenson run and a one-yard run by halfback D.J. Hall to reclaim the lead.

The first of Laker sophomore wideout Taylor Hutchison’s touchdown receptions came late in the quarter as Ellis found him for a 30-yard touchdown play.

In the final quarter, the Cardinals scored twice more as Stephenson and Hall would find the endzone once more each.

A late 18-yard touchdown reception by Hutchison made the score more respectable but the Lakers came away defeated, 35-27.

The game was the first of a three-game road stretch for the Lakers as they visit district foe Warren East this Friday and then travel to Somerset the following week.

Warren East (3-3, 1-2 in district play) is coming off of an emotional district road victory as they defeated host Logan County 52-50 in overtime last week, their first district win of 2008.