Bennett Lake shines as FPD pulls away from Marion County late for 49-21 win

Bennett Lake is listed as a back on FPD’s roster.

Friday night, he might as well have been listed as DE: Do everything.

The junior intercepted a pair of passes and accounted for 97 rushing yards and 25 passing yards to help spark FPD to a 49-21 win over GHSA Class A-Division II Marion County at George Johnson Memorial Stadium in Macon Friday night.

The defending GIAA Class 4A champs improved to 2-0, though their second win bore little resemblance to the first, a 10-0 road win over Eagle’s Landing Christian.

The FPD defense was stronger in the second half Friday as opposed to more of a full four-quarter effort a week ago. The offense came up with 298 yards against Marion County. The Vikings also snagged a pick-six and kickoff return for a touchdown, as five different players scored in the victory.

“I thought we played — I won’t say complete — complimentary football,” FPD head coach Brett Collier said. “The defense complemented the offense, we ran the ball, we threw it when we needed to.

“That’s a good team. They’re big, they’re fast, they’re strong, they run right at you. We knew it’d be like that.”

The defense got a test from a physical Marion County offense and back Kelbey Tymes and Jayden Richardson. Tymes went for 151 yards on 27 carries, Richardson 54 on 12.

“I think the team played great,” said defensive back Benjamin McElreath, who added an interception among a number of plays he made. “We played physical, which is what we need to. Our players are big, too, and we’re physical.”

Lake’s first pick came on Marion County’s opening possession after the Eagles crossed midfield, quarterback Ty Goodroe floating a pass to the left and Lake making the easy snag. The Vikings didn’t do anything with it, but he made up for that by picking off a pass on Marion County’s third snap and tip-toeing down the sideline for a 16-yard touchdown.

Marion County didn’t flinch, marching 11 plays and covering 65 yards with Tymes going the final 6 yards to tie it on the final play of the first quarter.

FPD needed only two plays to get the lead back. After a huge McElreath kickoff return, Brady McHugh went left and cut inside for a 35-yard score. A bad snap on the PAT left it at 13-7 with 11:27 left in the half.

The soft passing game suddenly got strong for Marion County with Goodroe throwing deep to La’Dayvion Crawford, who made a play in traffic for a 54-yard score. Another PAT issue followed, and it was 13 all at the 7:49 mark of the second quarter.

A snap sailed past quarterback Major Simmons with the ball on Marion County’s 32. He passed midfield, grabbed it, rolled left and threw under pressure to Breck Griffin, who weaved through traffic for the touchdown and a 19-13 lead with 5:45 remaining in the half.

The teams exchanged late interceptions, and that’s where it was at intermission.

“We didn’t necessarily start great,” Collier said. “It was sloppy. I really thought we should’ve been in a better position than we were going into halftime.”

They were in a better position right after halftime.

McElreath showed his stuff with the 81-yard kickoff return. Miles Simmons passed to Tinsley Lewis for the conversion to get two points back.

“I’ve been real impressed with McElreath,” Collier said. “He was fast last year, and we knew that, but he was kinda in Carter Hays’ shadow (at receiver), to be honest with you. We throw a quick screen to him, he might score.”

The momentum continued on FPD’s side when it stuffed a fake punt on its own 32, the Vikings then eating up more than five minutes before McHugh battled his way through and off defenders for a 7-yard score and a 35-13 lead — Lake passed to Brady Lincoln for two — with 1:10 left in the third.

Marion County made it a two-score game again three minutes into the fourth quarter, but Lake went 48 yards on FPD’s first play after that to seal it.

Marion County ran for 245 yards but completed only six passes for 86 yards, 54 of which came on one play. Lake led the Vikings on the ground, with McHugh getting 75 yards on 10 carries. Simmons completed 4 of 10 passes for 63 yards, Lake 4 of 5 for 25.

“I think we’re already off to a good start, more physical than last year,” Collier said. “I like our team. Playing good competition like these guys and what we did last week and what we’re gonna do next week just helps you in the long run.

“We’re going to continue to get better execution-wise, and I look forward to that.”