By George Slaughter
Mayde Creek’s 41-31 win over Seven Lakes Thursday night at Legacy Stadium provided more of the magic for which Rams fans have waited for years.
The win improves Mayde Creek to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in District 19-6A. The seven wins are the most by a Rams team since 1997, when they finished with a 10-2 record under then-coach Joe Sheffy.
The loss drops the Spartans to 3-5 and 0-4, respectively.
The Rams started the game strong, scoring on their first possession. The scoring play came on a 23-yard pass from senior quarterback John Zolacha to senior Donte Jones.
The Spartans came into Thursday’s game having suffered three consecutive lopsided losses. They were determined that this night would be different, and it was. After an exchange of punts, the Spartans tied the game on a 54-yard run by junior running back Milton Jones with 3:36 remaining in the first quarter.
The Rams needed only one play to retake the lead when Jones took the ball to his left, on the outside, and scored on a 75-yard run.
After a Seven Lakes field goal, Jones scored his third touchdown of the game, with 8:58 in the first half. Junior kicker Angel Gorostista’s extra point gave the Rams a 21-10 lead going into halftime.
The Rams upped their lead at the 9:47 mark in the third quarter, when junior running back Julius Loughridge scored on a 57-yard run. Seven Lakes responded on its next possession, needing only one play to get back in the game. needed only one play to get back in the game. The touchdown, a 70-yard pass from junior quarterback Cristian Beltran to senior wide receiver Eric Johnson, made the score 27-17, Mayde Creek, with 9:36 in the third quarter.
Milton Jones’s second touchdown of the game for Seven Lakes brought the Spartans to within three points, 27-24, with no time remaining in the third quarter.
Seven Lakes took the lead on another Beltran-to-Johnson touchdown pass, this one for 25 yards, with 9:05 remaining in the game.
On the ensuing drive, Mayde Creek retook the lead on a two-yard run by sophomore wide receiver Eddie Harrell. On its next possession, Mayde Creek scored again, this time on a 68-yard run by Loughridge. His run came after several plays in which the Spartans held the Mayde Creek ground game for no yards. Loughridge said he and his teammates remained confident that their running game would have a breakthrough.
“We knew it would open late in the fourth quarter,” Loughridge said.
Said Rams coach Mike Rabe: “When we popped them, it was big. The offensive line has gotten better every week, and I’m really excited how they played tonight.”
Rabe said the win was a big one and the team wanted to enjoy it with the rest of the student body at school Friday. Then it’s back to work, as Mayde Creek returns to action next Friday against Katy at Rhodes Stadium.
“At the end of the day, we’re trying to have fun,” Loughridge said.
Seven Lakes returns to action next Saturday against Morton Ranch at Legacy Stadium.