H.S. FOOTBALL: Lexington crushes Riverside

LEXINGTON – Lexington scored 51 points against Riverside last year, needing all of them to defeat the Panthers in Decaturville.

On Friday night, the Tigers put up a similar number of points but played much better defense, shutting out the Panthers in the first half en route to a 45-14 win at home.

“We played with a lot of emotion [early in the game],” Lexington head coach Bryant Hollingsworth said. “They kept going and did what they were supposed to do.”

The Tigers started strong from their opening possession after forcing Riverside to punt, scoring on four plays, capped off by a 5-yard touchdown run by De’Andre Scott, which was set up by a 61-yard pass from quarterback Tylan Johnson to Seth Parker.

Riverside’s second drive started better than their first with Panther quarterback Drake Smith completing a 33-yard pass on third and long to move the ball past midfield. But on the next play, the Panthers turned over the ball. Smith left the game after that drive and did not return.

Lexington’s Scott scored his second touchdown immediately following the fumble on a 61-yard run to give the Tigers the 14-0 lead, six minutes into the game.

Lexington was not done scoring in the quarter, with Tucker White returning a punt back with two minutes to play in the first quarter to give Lexington the 21-0 lead.

Lexington continued to build its lead, with Kenneth Thornton scoring on a 3-yard touchdown run, followed two minutes later by Scott scoring his third touchdown run of the night.

Scott unofficially finished with seven carries for 105 yards rushing.

“[Scott] is just a sophomore,” said Hollingsworth. “He took his bumps and bruises and finished on top tonight.”

Darrius Bomar scored the final touchdown of the half on a 39-yard touchdown run to make it 42-0, with the final three points of the half for Lexington coming on a 25-yard field goal from Ryan Courtright, who boomed kicks into the end zone for touchbacks all night.

With a running clock in the second half, Riverside finally scored on a fourth and goal, eight-yard pass from Brady Jones to Mason Stokes. The Panthers scored a defensive touchdown when Gatlin Crawley picked up a fumble and took it into the end zone to make the final score 45-14.

Lexington (1-0) travels to Hardin County next week while Riverside (1-1) returns home to face Lewis County.