Tucker crushes Lakeside-DeKalb

By JEFF HAWS

For the AJC

After exceeding its 2008 win total with a victory last week over Columbia, hopes rose for followers of Lakeside.

Leave it to region-rival Tucker to emphatically crush those hopes in one speed-fueled burst.

The defending Class AAAA state champion used a 41-point second quarter to overwhelm the Vikings, with Rendell Wilder’s 159-yard, three-touchdown quarter leading the way. The Tigers cruised home in the second half for a 60-27 victory, their 12th win in their past 13 meetings with Lakeside.

The first half was all that Tucker needed, as the Tigers (2-0) posted 356 rushing yards on 27 carries, scoring on runs of 69, 55, 34, 24, 17, 6, 6 and 4 yards during the first 24 minutes of play. Tucker scored a touchdown on all eight first-half possessions.

The scoring started quickly for Tucker, which got into the end zone on its first play from scrimmage on a 69-yard reverse by receiver Chris Champion, setting the tone for the Tiger offense.

Speed was the difference, as Lakeside’s defenders consistently couldn’t match the Tigers step for step. Champion was the first player to take advantage of the mismatch, but Wilder was the biggest beneficiary.

On seven second-quarter runs, none went for fewer than 9 yards and three were 24 yards or longer — all three for touchdowns.

For backs Wilder and Devin Scott, once they turned the corner, nobody on the Lakeside defense could catch them. Tucker has prided itself on speed for years, and it paid off big in the second quarter Friday night.

“We felt we worked really hard on our speed this summer,” Wilder said. “That team last year, they won the state title, but we’re working hard to try to repeat.”

It’s early, and there’s reason to think the Tigers may not have quite the depth of athletes they had in winning state last year. That’s why Tucker coach Franklin Stephens was working his starters all the way through the first half, when the game was well in hand.

“I knew I was going to pull them in the second half, so I wanted to give them as many snaps as possible,” Stephens said. “It just so happened tonight, we had a lot of big plays. I imagine we could have slowed the game in the first half some, but that wouldn’t have done our kids any good.”

TUCKER 60, LAKESIDE 27

Lakeside 0 7 7 13 — 27

Tucker 13 41 6 0 — 60

T — Chris Champion 69 run (Connor Hamilton kick)

T — Devin Scott 17 run (Hamilton kick)

T — Rendell Wilder 24 run (kick failed)

T — Terrell Poole 4 run (Hamilton kick)

T — Wilder 55 run (Hamilton kick)

T — Scott 6 run (Hamilton kick)

T — Wilder 34 run (Hamilton kick)

L — Jonathan Gibson 2 run (Daniel Smith kick)

T — Poole 6 run (run failed)

T — Jordan Landry 44 run (kick failed)

L — Jonathan Gibson 80 kickoff return (Smith kick)

L — Angelo Cauley 42 pass from Don Cox (Smith kick)

L — Langston Williams 58 fumble return (kick failed)