LMS Drops Chapin 14-0, Pleasant Hill Showdown Awaits Wildcats Next Wednesday
The Lexington Middle School Wildcats fought off rain, darkness, and a determined Chapin team for a 14-0 victory to improve to 5-0 on the season.  Originally scheduled to be played at Chapin High School, the game was moved LMS due to field conditions in Chapin. 

Lexington took the opening kick-off and quickly drove the field with a powerful rushing attack.  Connor Ackim opened the scoring with a 15 yard burst around the left side.  The PAT failed and Lexington maintained a 6-0 lead.  On the ensuing possession, Chapin’s ground game, lead by Adam Cook, showed an early explosiveness to match the Wildcats, but Christian Fincher recovered an Eagles’ fumble to give ball back to Lexington.  William Hunter again drove the offense down the field, covering the final 17 yards and the two point conversion himself, and with 2:51 left in the first quarter, Lexington held a commanding 14-0 lead. 

The next three quarters saw the offenses threaten, but wet conditions and defensive stands kept both teams out of the end zone, as LMS secured its place atop the PAC standings with a 14-0 victory.

The Wildcats will close out the regular season Wednesday, October 21, against their cross town rivals, the Pleasant Hills Cougars.  This will be the first ever meeting between the two schools and the PAC AAAA regular season championship will be on the line.  This game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Lexington High School.

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CATS REMAIN UNBEATEN
Lexington Middle School traveled across I-20 to capture their 4^th victory of the season, defeating White Knoll Middle School 26-8.

The War Hawks returned the game’s opening kick-off to the LMS 49 yard line and took an early 8-0 lead on quarterback keeper.  The Wildcats quickly answered as quarterback William Hunter scored from 11 yards out, but the pass for the tying conversion failed and White Knoll maintained the lead at 8-6.  Lexington threatened once more when Hunter hit Jessie Franklin for a 42 yard gain inside the War Hawks’ 5 yard line, but the defense held on 4^th down and the score remained 8-6 at the half.

In the second half, Lexington again went to the air when Hunter found Franklin in the end zone from 19 yards out on 4^th down.  The two point conversion failed, but the Wildcats had their first lead of the game at 12-8. 

On the following possession, Lexington’s line received a tremendous blow when interior lineman Tomias Reece suffered a season ending leg injury.  Reece is one of the team’s inspirational leaders and will continue his career next year at Lexington High.

When action resumed, Nelson Spence recovered a White Knoll fumble to give the ball back to a Wildcat offense that was gaining momentum.  Connor Ackim powered 38 yards off of left tackle and Otis Biggs corralled the two point pass to increase the lead to 20-8.

The War Hawks went to the air to try and quickly get back in the game, but Franklin came up with an interception.  LMS surrendered the ball back to White Knoll two plays later on an interception, but the Wildcat defense held strong, forcing a fumble that was again recovered by Franklin.  Ackim wasted little time in returning to the end zone, this time rumbling in from 35 yards and scoring the game’s final points.

The Wildcats improved to 4-0 on the season and currently lead the Palmetto Athletic Conference AAAA standings over Dutch Fork and Pleasant Hill by one game.  LMS has this week off and will return to action on October 15 at Chapin.

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WILDCATS CAGE THE JACKETS
The Lexington Middle School Wildcats improved to 3 – 0 on the season with a 14 – 0 victory over Irmo Middle School.  Lexington used a strong first half to pull away from the Yellow Jackets, controlling the line of scrimmage and forcing turnovers on three consecutive possessions.  Late in the first quarter, the Wildcats converted a fourth down play from 27 yards out when Connor Ackim rumbled in to give LMS a 7 – 0 lead.  On the ensuing possession, Irmo also elected to go for it on fourth down, but Dylan Darden intercepted the Yellow Jackets pass.  Lexington was unable to score, but Darden came up big again, recovering a fumble and advancing it to Irmo’s 10-yard line.  This time it took just two plays for the Wildcats to reach the end zone, as William Hunter  connected with Otis Biggs for a 13 yard score.  Caleb Berry converted the extra point and LMS lead 14-0.
The Wildcat defense continued to stifle Irmo, forcing a third consecutive turnover when Grayson Chumley recovered the loose ball.  Lexington forced a third fumble, but the last one was awarded back to the Yellow Jackets after initially being recovered by Austin Leaphart.  The second half saw both defenses make crucial stops, with Lexington getting sacks from Jim Brittingham and Reece Burnett and a teeth-rattling hit by Ryan Metze.

Next week, LMS travels across town to take on White Knoll Middle School at 5:30.  Please come out to support the Wildcats as they look to continue their place atop the PAC standings.

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