HOT SPRINGS, Ar. — A standing room crowd at Lakeside witnessed Lake Hamilton’s new passing game Friday night. Junior quarterback Easton Hurley threw long touchdown passes to Kendrick Martin and Jacob Muddiman to lead the Wolves past rival Lakeside, 47-20.
Winning coach Tommy Gilleran said after last week’s scrimmage with Arkadelphia that the Wolves would be throwing the ball more this fall. There were still too many drops and errant throws as far as Gilleran was concerned. It was penalties that allowed the Rams to fight back from a 34-13 deficit.
“We’ve got to cut those penalties out,” said Gilleran. “Dropped passes and penalties have got to stop. We want better passing, receiving and blocking. I thought Martin was great tonight on offense and defense. We played a lot of sophomores tonight. It was a typical rivalry game that got ugly with the penalties and a couple of turnovers.”
Hurley scored twice in the first quarter on sneaks to put the Wolves on top for good. Lakeside kept it close on an 18-yard touchdown reception from senior signal-caller Towle Douglas, and a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. Grady Ohman scored for the Rams to make it 13-13. Lake Hamilton answered with a 95-yard scoring drive. Justin Crutchmer ignited the drive with two runs for a combined 50 yards. Martin scored the touchdown on an 8-yard run.
Jacob Muddiman hauls in long TD pass
The Wolves added two more scores before the end of the first half. Martin turned a short pass into a 50-yard touchdown. Muddiman’s catch was special to Gilleran. Muddiman wasn’t the intended receiver.
“It a wheel-route and I guess I just got open,” said Muddiman. “Easton is getting better and better. Our passing game is going to be OK. We’ve got a chance of making a state championship run this year if we keep improving.”
Trailing 34-13 at intermission, Lakeside kicked off to start the second half, and the Wolves fumbled on the first play, with the Rams recovering at Lake Hamilton’s 35. Two plays later junior Zane Garrett danced 35 yards for six points with 11:05 left in the third quarter. Two long touchdown runs by Martin proved to be the decisive blows.
The two schools combined for nearly 800 yards.
Lake Hamilton plays its first home game next week against Jonesboro, while the Rams trek to Russellville.