The No. 20 seed Lakeside Warriors took a three-point lead into the fourth quarter against Vidalia Friday night and were looking for an upset in the first round of the non-select Division III playoffs.
But the No. 13 seed Vikings scored two unanswered touchdowns and pulled out a 28-17 victory.
Lakeside closed its season 6-5. The Warriors doubled their win total of last season.
Vidalia (9-2) visits No. 4 Kaplan in the second round.
Levi Lelke’s 35-yard field goal gave Lakeside a 17-14 lead late in the third quarter. That came a few plays after after the Warriors had a 10-yard touchdown run erased by a penalty.
Vidalia answered with a 52-yard touchdown drive.
The Vikings converted a fourth-and-5 at their 47 with a 21-yard run. The Warriors had a chance to tackle the ball carrier behind the line but he escaped.
Vidalia scored on a 12-yard run and got a two-point conversion to go up 22-17 early in the fourth quarter.
Lakeside drove from its 36 to a first down at the Vidalia 32. But a pass on fourth-and-14 was incomplete.
The Vikings drove 63 yards for their final touchdown keyed by a long run and a Lakeside penalty.
Lakeside opened the game strong, scoring on a 57-yard drive. Malik Thorn ran 8 yards for the touchdown and Lelke added the PAT.
That was all the scoring in the first quarter.
The Warriors defense forced a punt in the first quarter and a turnover on downs early in the second.
An interception returned to the Lakeside 33 set up a Vidalia touchdown on a 32-yard pass.
The Warriors stopped a two-point conversion attempt.
After forcing a punt, the Vikings drove 75 yards for a touchdown and added a two-point conversion.
Lakeside advanced to the Vikings 25. Penalties pushed the Warriors back to the 40. With time running out in the half they were forced to pass and were unable to score.
The Warriors trailed 14-7 at the half.
Lakeside recovered a fumble at the Vidalia 27 on the first play of the second half. Thorn scored on a 1-yard run and Lelke’s extra point tied it at 14.
The Warriors then got a turnover on downs at the Vikings 36, setting up the drive to the field goal.