Lake Ridge charges back for late win over Richardson

By Bob Kowalski

Mansfield Record

Lake Ridge held a lead for slightly more than 4 minutes in its game against Richardson on Friday at Vernon Newsom Stadium, but it was the most important 4 minutes of the night.

Lake Ridge (3-0) scored the dramatic final points on a 44-yard touchdown pass from Deshawn Edwards to Mikah Blow for a 34-27 comeback victory over Richardson (1-2).

Richardson took its final drive to Lake Ridge’s 19-yard line, but a goal-line interception by Lake Ridge’s Tylen Hockett with 1 minute left sealed the victory. It was Hockett’s second interception of the game. In the first quarter, with Richardson holding a 13-7 lead and marching into Lake Ridge territory, Hockett went up with a receiver and wrestled a pass away to stall the visitors’ drive.

After Richardson took a 27-7 lead with nearly 10 minutes left in the first half, it appeared the visitors had all the momentum. But Edwards led the offense with a cool hand and productive legs, rushing for first downs or moving the pocket to find open receivers when the Richardson defense pinched. The Lake Ridge defense held Richardson in check, with linebacker Jayden Cupitt delivering hit after hit, and lineman Camden Kennedy keeping the pressure on Richardson quarterback Lucas Sawyer.

The home team scored the final four touchdowns of the game, starting with Edwards’ 5-yard TD run with 5 ½ minutes left before halftime to make it 27-14. That capped a 75-yard drive in which Edwards rushed for 37 yards and passed for 38, including back-to-back tosses to Kamron Jackson to put the team into the red zone.

Lake Ridge pulled to within a touchdown with the only score of the third quarter, a 9-yard run by Samuel Fogwe with nearly 4 minutes left in the quarter. Lake Ridge’s tying touchdown was set up by an interception by Makeis Smith, who maneuvered across the field for a 59-yard return to Richardson’s 3-yard line. Edwards trotted into the end zone on the next play for a 27-27 score, followed by Blow’s catch to give Lake Ridge the win.

In other Mansfield ISD games Friday, South Grand Prairie topped Legacy (2-1), 61-14, and Argyle edged Timberview (1-2), 35-27. On Thursday night, Mansfield (1-2) lost to Arlington Martin, 74-47. Summit was idle this week.

Next week, Legacy plays host to Rockwall Heath at 7 p.m. Thursday at Newsom Stadium; Lake Ridge meets North Forney at Better Life Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday; Mansfield visits Hewitt Midway at Panther Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday; Summit faces Burleson at Burleson-Elk Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday; and Timberview matches with Colleyville Heritage at 7 p.m. Friday at Newsom Stadium.

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