The Virginian-Pilot
©
CHESAPEAKE
In his 10 previous years as Lake Taylor coach, Hank Sawyer said he had never started a season 0-1.
That changed last week.
A season-opening loss to Battlefield got the Titans off to an unfamiliar start.
Thursday night in heavy drizzle and howling winds, Sawyer’s team got back on track with a 45-0 blanking of Indian River.
“There was a sense of urgency for us,” Sawyer said. “We had six starters out against Battlefield and we got three of them back tonight.
“If we don’t come back and win this one ...”
It was the Braves’ season opener.
It didn’t take long for things to start going Lake Taylor’s way. Titans linebacker Nicholas Oliver picked up a fumble on the Braves’ first play, setting up a Lake Taylor score three plays later. Derrion Walton dashed in from the 4.
Walton, who finished with 67 yards on 12 carries, scored again on a 24-yard scamper on Lake Taylor’s next possession.
The third time the Titans had the ball, Kevin Swofford hit Lamont Britt from 20 yards out for a 21-0 lead with 20 seconds left in the first quarter. Swofford finished with 70 yards passing on 5 of 10 with one interception.
He also rushed four times for 28 yards.
Lake Taylor (1-1) built a 37-0 halftime lead despite 117 yards in penalties.
The Titans got a safety when Eric Sykes sacked Indian River quarterback Corwin Cutler in the end zone. Britt then returned a fumble 65 yards for a touchdown and Mario Rowson picked off Cutler and returned it 50 yards for another score.
Indian River racked up 98 yards of penalties and lost three fumbles.
Notable stats: LT–Torrey Palmer 6-34 rushing; Britt 3-40 TD receiving.
Lee Tolliver, (757) 222-5844, lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
