Date: 10/4/2024
Opponent: Ocala Forest
Final Score: South Lake High School 38 Ocala Forest 27
Place: Eagle Stadium
Season Record- 3-3 2-0 District
By Coach Bradley Lord
Game Summary: Ocala Forest came into Eagle stadium and threw all over South Lake High School in the first half completing several deep balls on the Eagle secondary giving them a first-half lead of 21-13. Marcel Walker would start the scoring with a 42-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Forest then takes advantage of costly penalties tying the game at 7 to end the first quarter. The Eagle offense would again move down the ball early in the second quarter and Keydrick Powell would take it in from the 8-yard line for a touchdown. The Eagles would miss the extra point but lead 13-7. Forest would take advantage of a costly eagle turnover and take the lead 14-13 midway through the second quarter. The Eagle offense again came up short on the next series and Forest would again hit a deep ball on the Eagle secondary giving them a 21-13 lead at the half. To start the second half the Eagle offense marched to the Forest 25-yard line and Chris Mckenna would hit a 32-yard field goal to cut the lead to 21-16.
The South Lake Defensive Coaching staff made some adjustments at half-time. The eagle defense stood strong giving the ball back to the offense. The eagle running attack kicked in. Malik Holman rambled in for a 40-yard TD and Kaden Magloire would cap it off with a two-point conversion putting the Eagles ahead by three midway through the third quarter. Marcel Walker would again find the end zone on a pass from Tre Kelly giving the Eagles a ten-point lead 31-21 to start the fourth quarter. The Eagle defense led by Rome Mckinnond, Junior Misere, Jesse Barker, Magloire, and Walker would again set up the offense with great field position early in the fourth quarter and Holman would seal the victory with a 40-yard touchdown run.
“ We cannot give up big plays like we did in the first half of the game. Our team showed some maturity coming back from an eight-point deficit. Our Defense stepped up in the second half and got stops, the offensive line got it in gear made space for our running backs, and Mckenna hit a crucial 32-yard field goal early in the second half. We need to clean it up this week we are on a short week with Horizon, another district game on Thursday, and can’t start slow.”
Malik Holman rushed for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Marcel Walker had his strongest game of the year going for 150 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns and Keydrick Powell also had a big night receiving and scoring a touchdown. Rome Mckinnond had an outstanding defensive performance with double-digit tackles.
Date of Next Opponent: Away- @ Horizon Thursday Oct 10 – 7 PM- District
