By PATRIC FLANNIGAN
Sports writer
The Camden Fairview Cardinals (2-2, 0-1) opened conference play with a loss against the Lakeside Rams (3-1, 1-0) on Friday, 43-36.
CF tallied season highs in the wrong categories during the game including giveaways (3), points allowed (43) and total offensive yards allowed (488). However, the home team had climbed its way to a 36-35 lead with 6 minutes left after trailing by 13 points late in the third quarter.
Lakeside would reap the benefits of a good kickoff return that landed them at midfield. A few plays later, the visiting team would score when its quarterback Walter Walcott rolled right before throwing it back across the field to his running back Grady Ohman and he would take it for a 32 yard touchdown with 4 minutes left. Lakeside would add a two point conversion.
The Cardinals got the ball down to the Lakeside 40 before fumbling the ball back into the Rams hands. LS salted away the remainder of the ball game.
Comeback Cardinals
While the loss was a hard pill to swallow for the Cardinals, the take away that CF is a team that no lead is safe against is evident. CF began its late charge when sophomore Dayton Browning took a screen pass from quarterback Darre'll Juney Atkins for a 22 yard touchdown on a third and long. The wind was a factor throughout the night and blew the PAT off its track. The Cardinal defense stood tall and forced a punt on Lakeside's first possession of the fourth and the Cardinals would face a fourth and seven from within its own 25 and was able to convert it. CF would face three more third downs on the drive and convert them including a third and goal from the 6 that Atkins kept for a touchdown run. Trent Haygood - a season high of 163 rushing yards - ran the option in for two points.
0-1 not wanted but not always that bad
For the second consecutive year, the Rams dealt a significant blow to the Cardinals' chances of playing at home in the playoffs. Everything to play for is still in front of the Cardinals as proven by recent history. Last year, CF started with a conference opening loss but ended up playing in the semifinals.
High powered offenses
The Rams were nearly as balanced as balanced can be on Friday night throwing for 253 yards and rushing for 235. Ohman finished with 39 carries for 213 and Walcott threw for four touchdowns.
Atkins was 16/24 for 179 and a touchdown while rushing 11 times for 66 yards and two touchdowns. Browning would lead the team in receiving yards with three catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. Haygood finished with 293 all purpose yards thanks to a couple of big kickoff returns to go with what he had already compiled on the ground and an additional 24 receiving yards.