Sports

Lakers Fall in Homecoming Thriller to Oak Park

Senior C.J. Brathwaite was tackled at the Oak Park two-yard-line on the last play of the game, which the Lakers lost, 18-16.

For the length of time it takes to make a play, the West Bloomfield varsity football team thought they had it all. They had the confidence to score a touchdown with four seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to bring the score against Oak Park to 18-16. They had the homecoming crowd on its feet in support. However, a two-point conversion fell two yards short and the Lakers missed their opportunity to tie on the last play of the game.

"I had the confidence to get in. I had that adrenaline pumping. I was fighting so hard. I was free-minded — just thinking, 'get in the end zone.' I tried to cut it upfield as much as I could, but it just wasn't there," said Lakers' senior C.J. Brathwaite, who was tackled at the pitched called by head coach Ron Bellamy.

The Lakers got their big chance on a 7-yard touchdown throw from senior Daryn Byrd, who hit senior Connor LaPorte over the middle. "(Oak Park) left the middle of the field open ... we had to give Connor an opportunity to make a play, and he gave us the opportunity at the end to make a play. I'm proud of him."

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Bellamy was also quick to credit Byrd for the touchdown drive he engineered in a little under two minutes beginning at his own four-yard-line. "He's been ridiculed, thrown interceptions, made mistakes, and that's all anyone can see, is what the quarterback is doing. People don't watch how this kid got beat up on that drive, and he manages to fight back and you've got to like his resiliance," Bellamy said.

The Lakers came back from a 12-3 halftime deficit to put themselves in a position to win. Bellamy also credited the effort by the defense, while Knights head coach Greg Carter lamented a third-quarter interception by Lakers' senior defensive back David Hunter. Hunter intercepted the Nathan Simms pass from the Lakers' own six-yard-line to the Knights' six-yard-line, and Brathwaite punched it in on the game's next play. "They made big plays," Carter said. "It's a credit to them because they played hard. It was crazy."

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"We said, just play four quarters and you'll give yourself a chance. We gave ourselves a chance and unfortunately, it didn't result the way we wanted to. It's a character-builder," Bellamy said.

The Lakers will take on Pontiac on the road next week.


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