Rockwall Heath tops Lake Ridge in weather-shortened game

September 9, 2023
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Lake Ridge crowned its 2023 Homecoming King and Queen, Jacob Levine and Brooklyn Finley, at Friday night's game. (Photo by Bob Kowalski/Mansfield Record)

By Bob Kowalski

Mansfield Record

Rockwall Heath’s efficient offense and stubborn defense kept Lake Ridge in check in a 37-10 Hawks victory Friday night at Newsom Stadium, in a game shortened to three quarters by severe weather.

The non district game’s start time was pushed back to 7:30 p.m. because of the intense heat, and was called off with 22 seconds left in the third quarter.

Heath (2-1) built on its 24-10 halftime lead by scoring on its first two possessions of the second half, including an eight-play drive to open the half, ending with a 28-yard field goal by Cade Hyatt.

After Lake Ridge (0-3) turned the ball over on downs at midfield, Heath marched 51 yards in nine plays, with Hawks running back Malachi Tuesno scoring on an 18-yard run to put Heath up 37-10 with 4:13 left in the third.

In the opening quarter, Heath took an early lead on quarterback Caleb Hoover’s 4-yard run to cap a 65-yard drive for a 7-0 advantage with 4 ½ minutes gone in the game.  

Lake Ridge needed little time to tie it at 7-7 when Eagles running back Marcus Hayes bolted up the middle and outpaced the Heath defense on a 76-yard TD run only 19 seconds after Hoover’s score.

Heath’s Hoover left the game on the next series when he landed awkwardly while stepping out of bounds. Backup quarterback Landon Dutka didn’t miss a beat, though, throwing a pair of scoring passes to give Heath a 21-7 lead heading into the second quarter.

The teams traded field goals as the only scoring in the second quarter. Lake Ridge’s Lance Taggart kicked a 33-yarder 19 seconds before halftime to cut the lead to 27-10.

In the second quarter, Lake Ridge started three drives in Heath territory, but the Hawks defense turnedthe Eagles back, allowing only three points on those drives.

Still Lake Ridge found success on the ground, with Hayes rushing for 100 yards in the first half and finishing the game with 126.

Elsewhere among Mansfield ISD teams Friday night, Mansfield (3-0) defeated South Grand Prairie, 49-29, at the Warrior-Gopher Bowl in another game halted by bad weather; and Timberview (3-0, 1-0 5-5A DI) started its district schedule by beating W.T. White, 27-7,  atthe Loos Sports Complex.

On Thursday night, Legacy (1-2) defeated Dallas Wilson, 35-30, at Forrester Field; and Summit (1-2) fell to Crowley, 43-14, at Newsom.

Next week, Summit opens District 5-5A DII play against Arlington Seguin at 7 p.m. Thursday at Wilemon Field; Timberview is home against Carrollton Turner at 7 p.m. Thursday at Newsom Stadium; Legacy plays host to Mansfield at 7 p.m. Friday at Newsom Stadium to open District 11-6A play; and Lake Ridge plays host to Duncanville at 7 p.m. Friday at R.L. Anderson Stadium to start its 11-6A slate.

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