Lakeshore continues magical season, awaits Neville challenge

We have all heard the rumblings.

Lakeshore is the new kid on the block. The Titans have not been tested. Their schedule has not prepared them well. Wait until they face traditional powers such as Karr, Neville or Warren Easton.

While the naysayers continue to doubt, the Titans are simply taking care of business, doing their job and doing it extremely well.

The second-seeded Titans improved to 12-0 with a solid 40-19 win Friday night at 18th-seed Tioga.

As usual, quarterback Chris Penton came up big, this time with his legs. While Penton was good in the passing game, completing 17-of-27 for 204 yards but he was proficient running the football, rushing for 62 yards and three touchdowns in the victory.

Speaking on The Three Tailgaters Show on WGSO, 990 AM Saturday morning, Lakeshore head coach Craig Jones was not surprised.

“He’s put up great numbers in the air all season long but he showed he could make a difference with his feet as well,” Jones said. “When you have a player who can make a difference in both capacities is a great luxury.”

Max Lowery rushed 27 times for 168 yards and a touchdown for the Titans.

The Lakeshore defense forced five turnovers, a huge factor in the win. The victory in Central Louisiana was another hurdle cleared by the Titans.

“We told our kids that we had to go on the road and win a game, somewhere we had not been before and take care of business,” Jones said. “I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish. What I’m most proud about is that four or five times, we’ve had to redefine ourselves offensively. We have lost two of our top receivers and our running back to injuries. Every single time, the kids have found a way to make it work.”

Lakeshore advances to host seventh-seed Neville (8-3) in the quarterfinals. The Tigers survived a 14-13 thriller against 10th-seed McDonogh 35.

As for the task at hand, Jones knows Neville will be tough.

“We embrace the challenge,” Jones said. “They are a Louisiana powerhouse program. They are impressive, very physical, smash-mouth on offense and very physical on defense. Tioga maybe ran the ball four times the whole game while Neville will come right at you.”

Now, it is another new experience for the Titans to spend a holiday week on the field.

“There is nothing better than practicing on Thanksgiving week. We know Neville is a great program. Franklinton from our league played them tight. The biggest things our kids need to focus on is that it is just another game.”

Jones has experienced getting this far in the playoffs previously.

“I was on a team at Mandeville as the 18th-seed and we beat Jesuit in the first round and St. Thomas More after that,” Jones said. “Everyone is good and has earned their spot. Everyone left deserves to be here. We are happy that we are one of the final eight teams.”

It would not be wise for opponents and observers to continue sleeping on Lakeshore.

“All I want is to have one point more than they have when the final horn goes off,” Jones said.