It’s been a magical season for Lakeside.
The No. 11 seed Warriors (9-2) will try to keep it going Friday night against Sterlington (7-4) in the second round of the non-select Division III playoffs. Kickoff is 7 o’clock at Sterlington.
Lakeside has already made plenty of school history. The 2024 Warriors are the first to start the season 6-0 and win nine games.
Last week, Lakeside won only its second playoff game, routing Bogalusa 37-12. It was the first playoff victory at home. The Warriors’ last playoff win was in 2019.
The Warriors have had a turnaround season under first-year Head Coach John Ware. Lakeside was 3-7 last season in part due to injuries that decimated the team down the stretch.
Former Head Coach Michael Santelices is part of this season’s turnaround as an assistant coach. His son Eli, a senior, is too as a standout on both sides of the ball,
Lakeside faces a formidable challenge in Sterlington, the District 1-3A champion. The Panthers’ record is deceiving.
Sterlington’s losses were to non-select Division I No. 1 seed Neville 17-10, No. 13 West Ouachita 29-28, Class 5A Ouachita Parish 43-8 and defending non-select Division III state champion Union Parish 31-23.
Sterlington, which reached the semifinals last season, routed No. 27 Patterson, a team with one win, 63-12 in the first round.
The Panthers rushed for 503 yards, according to Hannapub.com.
Ware is familiar with Sterlington from his years as head coach at North Webster. As a Class 3A team the Panthers will likely have much more depth and fewer two-way players than Lakeside.
Lakeside’s success this season has been a team effort.
Senior Taron Riley and junior Kentravion Miller both rushed for more than 1,000 yards during the regular season.
Riley rushed for 1,192 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. He has also made his presence felt on defense. Last week, he had an incredible five interceptions and returned one 97 yards for a touchdown.
Riley also caught 16 passes for 141 yards and two TDs in the regular season.
Miller rushed for 1,044 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Junior quarterback Brock Case passed for 583 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed for 154 and two TDs.
Of course, none of them could have accomplished any of that without the offensive line performing their duties well.
Defensively, sophomore linebacker Caleb Barber led the team in tackles in the regular season with 65.
Senior Jamarion Evans had 52, including three for loss, and a fumble return for a touchdown.
Santelices had four interceptions. He also had 47 tackles and a fumble return for a touchdown. He also caught two touchdown passes.
Junior Bryce Parker had 41 tackles, including five for loss and a sack. Senior Jacobe Rankin had 40 tackles, including eight for loss and three sacks.
Senior Shavell Randall had 34 tackles, including two for loss and one sack. Sophomore Eric Jones had 30 tackles, including four for loss and three sacks.
Senior James Maxie had 29 tackles and two interceptions. He also caught two touchdown passes.