Lake Ridge defeats Legacy to capture postseason berth

By Bob Kowalski

Mansfield Record

Lake Ridge took control early and cruised to a 56-21 victory over Legacy on Friday night at Vernon Newsom Stadium to clinch a playoff spot.

The Eagles (7-2, 4-1 District 3-6A) needed only three plays to take a 7-0 lead on Deshawn Edwards’ 60-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Evans, who made the catch near midfield and ran untouched to the end zone.

After a Legacy (4-6, 2-4 3-6A) fumble on the Broncos’ 6-yard line, Lake Ridge scored on one play when Jaiden Cotton carried to the end zone for a 14-0 lead with barely more than two minutes gone in the game.

After Legacy turned the ball over on downs, Broncos linebacker Carson Cox intercepted a pass in the end zone on Lake Ridge’s first play, giving Legacy the ball at their 20-yard line.

Broncos’ quarterback Jake Jenkins and running back J-Uan Harrison Jr. carried the load, with Harrison carrying seven times on the drive, the last for 4 yards and a touchdown to pull Legacy within 14-7 with 2 ½ minutes left in the first quarter. Jenkins’ 14-yard pass to D’Andre Thomas on third-and-12 at the 49 kept the drive alive and set the stage for the score.

From there, Lake Ridge would pour it on, scoring four touchdowns in the second quarter, including a 40-yard scoring pass from Edwards to Evans with 47 seconds left to give the Eagles a 42-14 halftime lead.

Lake Ridge scored two second-half TDs, one on a staggering 69-yard run by Cotton, who burst through the middle of the line untouched and outraced the defense to the end zone.

Legacy closed the scoring with a 14-yard TD run by Nathan Wilson with seven seconds left in the game.

In other games Friday, Timberview (7-3, 6-3 3-5A II) clinched a playoff berth with a 55-6 victory over The Colony; and Summit (6-3, 5-2 3-5A II) earned a postseason spot with a 33-7 win over Everman. On Thursday, Mansfield (4-5, 3-2 3-6A) lost to North Crowley, 70-21.

The regular season wraps up next week, with Mansfield at Weatherford at 7 p.m. Thursday; Summit vs. Arlington Seguin at 7 p.m. Thursday at Newsom Stadium; and Lake Ridge vs. Boswell at 7 p.m. Friday at Newsom Stadium. Legacy and Timberview have a bye week.

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