Football hurts and if you can’t play the game with heart, it hurts even more.
Lee Academy was beaten by Bayou Academy, 43-0, Friday night in a game that saw very little go right with the Colts.
Playing in front of the home crowd, Lee got the kickoff, but then snapped the ball over the head of its quarterback three straight times with Bayou ultimately pouncing on the football for a safety.
There was no snap, crack or pop in the homestanding Colts and it showed as Lee was held scoreless for the first time since a 19-0 loss to Strayhorn in early August last year.
“Until they find it in here,” said Lee coach Rick Johnston pointing to his heart, “they won’t find it out there,” he added pointing to the football field.
Johnston admitted the team was young and has its share of injuries, but at this point in the season he said he expected more out of his players.
“It’s frustrating for the coaches, the fans and the players when we play like that,” said Johnston. “There was no intensity and we couldn’t seem to get out of our own way.”
Johnston also said Bayou is a good football team and just controlled the game.
Bayou scored on all three possession of the first quarter. Lee saw some success passing with William Walker passes to Sam Stonestreet, Tanner Fava and MontavianArtis moving the ball downfield but not into the end zone
Bayou led 23-0 after one quarter and intercepted a pass on the first play of the second quarter.
Bayou tacked on 14 more points and carried a 37-0 lead into the halftime locker room.
But the Colts just never seemed to find their groove. Bayou kicked a 32-yard field goal to carry the score to 40-0 at the end of three.
Bayou put in the second team in the fourth quarter and kicked a 25-yard field goal to finalize the score at 43-0.
The Colts got the ball back one last time and the game ended on a sack.
Johnston pointed out Lee has fall break this week and he hopes his Colts will be able to focus on details.
“We’ll come out and practice and try and get things right,” said Johnston. “We’ve got to finish the season strong if we want to make the playoffs.”
Lee has made the playoffs every year under Johnston.
Bayou (6-1, 2-1) hosts Starkville Academy (5-3, 2-1)Friday night.
Lee (1-7, 0-3) travels to Carroll Academy (3-4, 0-2) this week, Prairie View (8-0, 2-0) next week and then is back home for the season finale against North Delta (2-6, 1-2) on Oct. 22.
