No. 4 Lovett wore down No. 7 B.E.S.T. Academy and cruised to a 42-28 win Friday in a Region 6-AA matchup at Martin E. Kilpatrick Memorial Stadium in Atlanta.
The Eagles (2-2 overall, 0-1 in Region 6-AA) hung tough until a costly turnover late in the third quarter. With four seconds left, B.E.S.T. running back Deshant Hester lost a fumble at the Eagles’ 44. Lovett needed just four plays to convert the turnover into points, when senior quarterback Willie Candler scored his third rushing touchdown from three yards out to put the Lions up 35-20 with 11:40 left to play. The fumble was B.E.S.T.'s fourth turnover.
Candler completed 12 of 18 passes for 130 yards and 60 yards rushing on 18 carries.
Lovett senior receiver Jon Thomas took the opening kickoff back for an 83-yard score to put the Lions ahead. B.E.S.T. responded with a 5-play, 60-yard drive that included a 55-yard run from Deshawn Waller that gave the Eagles first-and-goal. He scored three plays later.
Lovett went ahead 14-6 when Jay Harris (13 carries, 103 yards) scored from seven yards out to close a 66-yard drive. B.E.S.T. needed just three plays on the ensuing drive to pull within 14-12, as quarterback Nakia Davis hit tight end Robert Tucker for an 18-yard score with 2:15 to play in the first quarter. Waller tied the game at 14 with a 2-point run.
The Lions drove 72 yards in six plays to go ahead 21-14, as Candler finished the drive with a 1-yard run. Harris ripped the Eagles’ defense for a 47-yard run to give Lovett first down at the 12.
Waller took a direct snap and went 63 yards for a score to pull B.E.S.T. within 21-20 with 8:08 to play in the second quarter. On the next drive, Candler put Lovett ahead 28-20 with a 2-yard run that closed a 55-yard drive.
Waller finished with 239 yards rushing on 21 carries and 91 yards on two first-half kickoff returns, including 60 on three runs during the Eagles’ final drive. He had averaged 180 yards rushing in the team’s first three games.
Both teams still figure into the hunt for the region championship with top-ranked Greater Atlanta Christian. B.E.S.T. hosts GAC next week at Lakewood Stadium, while Lovett (3-2, 2-0 in Region 6-AA) hosts KIPP Collegiate.
B.E.S.T. 14 6 0 8 28
Lovett 21 7 0 14 42
L – Jon Thomas 83 kick ret (Cole McGowan kick)
B – Deshawn Waller 1 run (pass failed)
L – Jay Harris 7 run (McGowan kick)
B – Robert Tucker 18 pass from Nakia Davis (Waller run)
L – Willie Candler 1 run (McGowan kick)
B – Waller 63 run (kick blocked)
L – Candler 2 run (McGowan kick)
L – Candler 3 run (McGowan kick)
L – Murphy Lee3 run (McGowan kick)
B – Waller 15 run (Katerian Legrone pass from Nakia Davis)
