Date: September 6, 2024
Location: The Villages
Coach Lord, South Lake High School Eagles
The South Lake Eagles football team faced a tough challenge on Friday night, falling to The Villages 36-24 after a promising start. The Eagles surged ahead in the first quarter, establishing a 10-0 lead, but costly turnovers and penalties ultimately paved the way for The Villages to mount a comeback and secure the victory.
Quarterback Tre Kelly had an impressive performance, throwing for 305 yards and connecting on three touchdowns. Izaiah Henderson led the receiving corps with six catches for 118 yards, while Keydrick Powell added six receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown. Marcel Walker also contributed significantly with two receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown.
On the defensive side, Anthony Johnson and Murphy Connelly stood out with strong performances in the interior, while Nelson Russell made a key interception to help the Eagles’ cause.
Despite these individual successes, South Lake struggled to maintain its early momentum. “We are not mentally tough enough to overcome six turnovers—most football teams are not,” said the Eagles’ head coach. “We need to really clean it up this week as we are taking on a tough, very talented Davenport team.”
The Eagles will look to bounce back in their district opener against Davenport next Friday at 7 PM.