The Battle Creek Lakeview Spartans welcomed Stevensville Lakeshore for a game that was pivotal in the SMAC standings. In the end, Lakeview outlasted Lakeshore in a shootout, 44-29.
In the first quarter, there was just a single touchdown scored. Lakeview’s Jacob Kucharczyk tossed a 45-yard pass to Romele Reed, giving the Spartans a 7-0 lead twelve minutes in.
The Lancers arose in the second quarter, with Ryan Korfmacher directing the offense. The Lakeshore signal-caller used his legs, weaving his way through the defense for a 29-yard equalizer. This draw would remain for five minutes, before Kucharczyk kept the football for a 4-yard touchdown for Lakeview.
Lakeshore would quickly respond on their own drive, covering the length of the field in two minutes. Korfmacher aired it out this time, finding Cage Davison on a 36-yard strike. A successful Tyler Gates extra point put the Lancers ahead 14-13. With mere seconds remaining in the opening half, Matthew Bacik hit a 32-yard field goal to give the Spartans a 16-14 halftime lead.
Early in the third quarter, Lakeshore regained the lead. Korfmacher found Trevor Griffiths on a 3-yard score, pushing the Lancers in front by five. As had been the case all day, Lakeview responded They got a 24-yard touchdown run from Jaris McIntosh, and a two-point conversion by Bacik, jumping ahead by three, 24-21.
The McIntosh touchdown was the kindling to an offensive flame for Lakeview. McIntosh would score again late in the third quarter on a 10-yard carry, and he would add a 12-yard touchdown in the opening snaps of the fourth quarter. Jacob Kucharczyk added a quarterback keeper of 20 yards that put the Spartans ahead 44-21 with seven minutes to go.
Lakeshore would snap the run with a pass of 65 yards from Korfmacher to Davison, but it would not nearly be enough. A successful two-point run by Davison brought the game to its final margin of fifteen points.
Ryan Korfmacher finished 9/19 passing for 145 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Cage Davison led the way with ten catches for 68 yards and two scores. Andrew Lies, despite being held out of the end zone, had a team-high 143 rushing yards.
Lakeview attempted just six passes, completing three for 125 yards and a score. Romele Reed, the touchdown recipient, had two catches for 80 yards. Jaris McIntosh and Jacob Kucharczyk each had 116 rushing yards for the victorious Spartans.
With the events of Friday, this defeat cost Lakeshore a shot at the SMAC title. Portage Central is now the outright league champion. Next week, Lakeshore will take on DeWitt, the reigning Division 3 State Champions. Battle Creek Lakeview will face St Joseph.
