Miscues cost Lakeland in loss to Pocatello

POCATELLO — Lakeland had the formula — running the ball, it’s usual M.O. — for a shot at beating Pocatello in the quarterfinals of the state 4A football playoffs.

But with a chance to win at the end, the Hawks just couldn’t hold onto the ball.

Two lost fumbles in the fourth quarter — one inside the 5-yard line — stymied Lakeland in a 20-14 loss to the Thunder on Friday night at Lookout Field.

“It was an unfortunate experience,” first-year Lakeland coach Mike Schroeder said. “The kids fought hard; they gave it all they had. Unfortunately we had three turnovers that changed the complexion of the game. I’ve never had a game where we lost where we never punted.”

Lakeland (7-3) controlled the game on the ground in the first half. Quarterback Caysen Loutzenhiser kept the ball and scored from 4 yards out, then John Cornish scored on a 17-yard run for a 14-3 Hawks lead.

Ryken EchoHawk answered with a 7-yard TD run for Pocatello (5-4). Lakeland roughed the kicker on the PAT, so the Thunder kicked off from the Hawks’ 45, and successfully recovered an onside kick. Two plays later, Hunter May hit Krue Hales on a 25-yard scoring play, and Pocatello led 17-14 at halftime.

“We were prepared for it, but we didn’t get it,” Schroeder said of the onside kick. “Every time we did get the momentum in the game, we somehow found a way to lose it.”

In the third quarter, Lakeland stopped Pocatello short of the end zone, and the Thunder settled for an 18-yard field goal.

Lakeland drove the length of the field in a bid for the go-ahead touchdown, but fumbled inside the Pocatello 5.

The Hawks also lost a fumble near midfield in the fourth quarter.

“I felt bad for the kids,” Schroeder said. “Defensively we played well enough to win.”

Cornish ran for 198 yards for Lakeland.

Pocatello will play at top seed Bishop Kelly (10-0) in the quarterfinals next week.

Lakeland was seeking its first playoff win since 2007.

“It was a great season; it would have been a better season (had Lakeland won),” Schroeder said. “But culturally, we turned the corner in some areas; they know the commitment to be successful.”

Lakeland 0 14 0 0 — 14

Pocatello 3 14 3 0 — 20

First quarter

Poc — FG Keller 22, 6:09

Second quarter

LL — Loutzenhiser 4 rush (Owen Forsman kick), 10:50

LL — Cornish 17 rush (Forsman kick), 5:25

Poc — EchoHawk 7 run (Keller kick), 2:06

Poc — Hales 25 pass from May (Keller kick), 1:29

Third quarter

Poc — FG Keller 18, 5:06

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — LL, Cornish 23-198, Benson 2-3, Calder 10-59, Loutzenhiser 6-31. Poc, EchoHawk 16-49, Beckles 5-37, May 9-61.

PASSING — LL, Loutzenhiser 3-10-0-53. Poc, May 12-18-1-130.

RECEIVING — LL, Benson 2-39, Cornish 1-14. Poc, Winn 2-18, Hales 4-44, EchoHawk 1-3, Smith 4-44, Stucki 1-21.