By Thomas Grant Jr.
Lexington got a “Lytes” out performance from its junior running back to earn a Region 4-5A victory last week.
Shannon Lytes rushed for 205 yards and four touchdowns in the 38-14 win at White Knoll.
Playing at Red Bank before a viewing audience as part of the WACH 57 Whataburger Friday Night Rivals Game of the Week, Lytes helped the Wildcats score 31 unanswered points in the second half.
White Knoll led 14-10 at halftime as Shaun Lloyd answered Lytes’ first touchdown and a field goal with two scores of his own.
In the second half, Lytes scored his second touchdown from two yards. On White Knoll’s first series, Brejhon Jefferson forced a fumble by Jonathan Keitt and Jackson Keiper made the recovery at the Timberwolves’ 15-yard line.
Three straight carries later, Lytes was back in the endzone to make it 23-14 in the third quarter after the failed PAT.
Early in the fourth quarter, Lytes found an opening and burst through for a 32-yard touchdown. He also ran in the 2-point conversion to extend Lexington’s lead to 31-14 in the fourth quarter.
We came out (in the second half) and we had the mindset we are going to keep pounding the run,” Lytes said after the game. “We noticed they couldn’t stop us and they couldn’t tackle us. So, we continued to run the ball and we won the game.”
With 5:08 left, Lexington linebacker Cross George struck quarterback Brayden Cress as he threw downfield. Teammate Caleb Schrodt intercepted the pass at the White Knoll 36 and returned it for a touchdown.
It was the fifth win in six games for the Wildcats (5-3, 1-1), while White Knoll fell to 1-6 overall, 0-2 in the region.
Rebels stay perfect
Mid-Carolina remains among the undefeated teams in the South Carolina High School League.
The Rebels rolled past Columbia 47-8 to improve to 7-0 overall, 2-0 in Region 3-2A. It matches their best start since the 2010 season when they finished 10-2.
The Rebels continued their best start since 2010 with the Region 3-2A victory.
Running backs Akai Williams and Ryker Woolstenhulme each had two touchdown rushes and combined for 126 yards. Quarterback Davis Ruff was 4-5 passing for 103 yards and two touchdowns.
OTHER WEEK 7 SCORES
Strom Thurmond 64, American Leadership Academy (Lexington) 0
Indians, Tigers win
Gilbert bounced back from its Region 4-3A loss to Camden with a rare road win at county rival Brookland-Cayce.
Quarterback Kendall Wright threw for 133 yards and two touchdowns and Jaylen Brost rushed for 129 yards to lead the Indians (5-2, 1-1) to a 28-15 win.
Andrew Frick was 21-33 for 203 yards and two touchdowns for the Bearcats (2-5, 0-2).
Last Thursday, Saluda posted a 42-0 win over Pelion. Avery Cole was 7-10 passing for 160 yards and two touchdowns and Tristan Daniels rushed for 123 yards and two scores for the Tigers (5-2, 2-0).
Over in Newberry, Sincere Glymph had a rushing and passing touchdown and Eric Rubio accounted for two field goals to lead the Bulldogs to a 40-14 win over Andrew Jackson.
Xavier Harding, Ty Abrams and Caleb Johnson all had rushing touchdowns for Newberry (3-4, 2-0).
WEEK 8 SCHEDULE
American Leadership Academy (Lexington) at Silver Bluff
Gilbert at Airport
Saluda at Orangeburg-Wilkinson
Strom Thurmond at Pelion
Lower Richland at Swansea
Chapin at White Knoll
Lexington is idle
