The Leopards celebrated homecoming Friday night, winning against Rosewood 35-14.

“With homecoming, you have a lot of distractions so you worry about your team,” said Coach James Lewis. “But it was another win against a quality team. Rosewood is a good team with talented players; we had to get that first conference win.”

While for much of the first half neither team could score, Jahdon Smith was the first to break the stalemate scoring a 1-yard rushing touchdown which was followed by Tyler Hobbs kicking the extra point. With a 7-0 lead going into the third quarter it was Shemar Tucker who next scored for the Leopards with a 43-yard interception returned for a touchdown, followed by another successful kick by Hobbs for the 14-0 lead.

Lakewood’s next touchdown came from Cameron Sessoms with a 25-yard rush, Hobbs once again succeeding in his kick resulting in a 21-0 score. It was during the final quarter that Rosewood scored in the last 4:09 of the game bringing the score after a successful kick to 21-7.

Another 53-yard rush from Sessoms and another kick from Hobbs brought the game to 28-7 before Rosewood answered to return it to a 14-point deficit, at 28-14.

With Lakewood in the lead and Rosewood poised for a potential comeback, it was Tucker with a 55-yard kick return that brought the Leopards their 35-14 win.

On defense, Dylan Ivey tallied 12 tackles, Tristan Holmes had 10 tackles and a fumble recovery, while Luke Brewer amassed 10 tackles himself. Johnson and Jaylin Torres each notched six tackles, Jaylin Avery had five tackles and one fumble recovery, and Tucker had a tackle and the pick-six for the defensive score.

Smith led the Leopards’ ground game with 22 carries for 146 yards. Also totaling rushing yards were Sessoms, five carries for 34 yards; Ellijah Davis, one rush for 11 yards; Tucker, two rushes for 11 yards; and Jameek Johnson, two carries for four yards.

Sessoms was 5-for-12 passing with 57 yards and an interception. Smith had one catch for 38 yards, Johnson had one catch for 13 yards and Andre Rich had three catches with six yards.

The Leopards stand at 6-2 overall, 1-1 on conference. With the homecoming win, Lakewood remains a perfect 5-0 on their home field. They will next face Hobbton on Friday.

Jameek Johnson runs hard through some Rosewood arm tackles in their 35-14 win.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_LHSfball1.jpgJameek Johnson runs hard through some Rosewood arm tackles in their 35-14 win.

Shemar Tucker on one of his returns. He had an interception and kick return, both for touchdowns, helping the Leopards get their first conference win on homecoming.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_LHSfball2.jpgShemar Tucker on one of his returns. He had an interception and kick return, both for touchdowns, helping the Leopards get their first conference win on homecoming.
Tucker, Smith lead way for Leopards, now 6-2

By Chris Froat

Sports Writer

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