Every time it appeared Bayou Academy was getting ready to pull away, Lee Academy managed to hang around and keep things close.
The Lee Academy Colts (0-2) were unable to break through remaining winless on the 2020 football season after dropping their home opener to the Bayou Academy Colts 30-14 Friday night.
Senior quarterback Luke Crumpton was picked off on the third play from scrimmage for a Bayou Academy touchdown with 10:57 remaining in the first quarter.
After the Lee Colts went three and out, the Bayou Colts scored on a six-play drive with 6:12 remaining in the first quarter to extend the advantage to 14-0.
However, Lee Academy managed to score two touchdowns to tie things up at 14-14 at halftime.
On a third down and long, Crumpton rolling out to his right threw his first touchdown pass of the season from 15 yards out to senior Gaines Barksdale with 19 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Senior Michael Basha’s PAT cut Bayou Academy’s lead to 14-7.
Sophomore Sam Stonestreet had 8 and 9-yard runs on the drive to set up the score, senior Graydon Gullick had a 15-yard run on a reverse to the right and a 10-yard run and Crumpton ran for 15 yards on a quarterback keeper.
Bayou Academy kept the ball for 10 plays and turned over on down at the Lee 33 with 5:17 remaining in the first half. Senior linebacker Chandler Wells made the tackle for Lee to give his team the ball back.
Gullick capitalized capping off seven-play drive on a 10-yard touchdown run with 2:09 remaining in the first half. Basha’s PAT tied the score at 14-14.
“I thought the effort was a lot better than last week,” said Lee coach Rick Johnston. “We had a good week of practice, a hard week of practice and our guys responded. We came out a little flat, turned it over, gave up a touchdown interception, but even getting down 14-0, our guys fought back. That’s what we’re looking for. That’s getting better from Week 1 to Week 2.”
The Lee Colts had opportunities to take the lead in the second half recovering two fumbles, but turnovers and mistakes of their own proved costly.
Crumpton was picked off with 5:30 remaining in the third quarter giving Bayou Academy possession in the Lee Academy red zone.
The Bayou Colts completed a pass near the goal-line, but the receiver fumbled the ball in the end zone.
Barksdale recovered the football for the Lee Colts giving them the ball at the 20-yard-line.
On the ensuing drive, senior Nickos Nolan took a pitch in his own end zone and was tackled for a safety.
That gave the Bayou Academy Colts a 16-14 lead with 5:08 to play in the third quarter.
Bayou Academy ran for a touchdown for around 45 yards with two seconds remaining in the third quarter to extend its lead to 23-14.
Crumpton lost a fumble giving Bayou Academy possession at the Lee Academy 39 with 9:40 remaining in the game.
Three plays later, senior lineman Jackson Spinks recovered a fumble giving the Lee Academy Colts the ball back.
Crumpton was once again intercepted with 4:39 to play and Bayou Academy capitalized four plays later with a six-yard touchdown run to extend its advantage to 30-14.
“We’ve got to eliminate some mistakes on the offensive side of the ball,” Johnston said. “Defensively, we’ve got to tackle a little bit better, but I could see some growth in our young guys tonight. That’s very encouraging.”
Lee Academy will look for its first win of the season at Stayhorn High School in Sarah at 7 p.m. Friday.
Strayhorn is a public school. All public schools in Mississippi are starting their season two weeks late due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the Mustangs have not played a game yet, Johnston is not sure what to expect Friday night.
“They’ve got a new coach,” Johnston said. “We’re not going to have any film on them because they haven’t played a game. I really don’t know what to expect. We’re going to go in there and do our thing. We’re going to try to take them out of whatever they’re doing. We’re going to apply pressure on defense and, hopefully, we get people blocked up front on offense. That was a problem tonight at times. Hopefully, with the effort tonight, it will carry over to next week.”
