By MATT VINES, Journal Sports
CAMPTI – Lakeview answered an early Mansfield shot across the bow Friday, but the Gators struggled to find additional ammunition as the Wolverines swamped Lakeview in the first half of a 61-18 Mansfield win.
The Wolverines (3-5, 2-1 District 3-2A) rattled off 34 straight points in 16 minutes of game action en route to a 36-point halftime lead.
Mansfield running back Terrance Pegues scored three of his four rushing touchdowns to kickstart the Wolverines offense, accounting for their first three scores.
Lakeview (3-5, 0-3) did respond to Mansfield’s first touchdown with a Kaleb Collins 10-yard run, but the Gators couldn’t corral an explosive Wolverine rushing attack.
Mansfield averaged 16 yards per carry, gaining 420 rushing yards on 26 attempts. Pegues’ first two rushing touchdowns covered 55 and 51 yards, respectively, setting a big-play tone.
“Mansfield is just bigger, stronger and faster,” said Lakeview coach Andy Boone. “This is a really tough district, and we’re trying to compete.
“We have to tackle much better than what we’re doing right now. “
Collins accounted for all three of Lakeview’s touchdowns.
A 10-yard score kept Lakeview close early, slicing Mansfield’s lead to 7-6.
But the Wolverines bottled up Lakeview for the vast remainder of the first half as they constructed a large lead.
Collins finished with 102 yards on 25 carries and added a 65-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Lamarion Rushing. The pass came with four minutes remaining in the second quarter, pulling the Gators to 41-12.
He added a 1-yard touchdown plunge late in the third quarter.
Omarion Pierr contributed 73 rushing yards on 17 touches.
Mansfield running back Kalvin Jackson added two first-half touchdowns (one rushing and one receiving) to pad the Wolverines’ first-half lead.
The loss extends Lakeview’s losing streak to four games after a 3-1 start to the season. The Gators’ district losing streak lengthened to 14 games dating back to 2019.
Mansfield recovered from an 0-4 start to the season to win three of its last four contests.
Lakeview’s playoff hopes still remain intact as the Gators entered the week sitting at No. 17 in the Division IV Non-Select bracket.
The Gators host a Jonesboro-Hodge team in Week 9 that’s dropped six of its last seven games.
