Lakeland overcomes penalties, handles Preston in opener

BUTTE, Mont. — The Lakeland Hawks opened their football season Friday with a victory — and one major area to clean up on.

Junior Kage Weil rushed for well over 100 yards and a touchdown, and Roan Reilly also scored in the first half as Lakeland overcame numerous penalties and defeated the Preston Indians 17-7 at Montana State University.

“We’re fortunate to get the win, happy we won the game,” second-year Lakeland coach Mike Schroeder said. “But I think we had 19 penalties for well over 100 yards … and that’s uncharacteristic of how we want to play.”

Lakeland scored on its first possession, junior quarterback Haydon Benson connecting with Reilly, as senior, on an 18-yard scoring play.

In the second quarter, Weil broke a 52-yard run to set up a 9-yard scoring run with 6:41 left in the half, as Lakeland scored TDs on two of its first three drives of the season.

“We challenged him, and he showed up and delivered,” Schroeder said of Weil. “He’s a shifty back. When he had the holes, he got through. And when he got to the second and third levels, he did some damage.”

Owen Forsmann, who has verbally committed to Idaho, booted a 32-yard field goal in the third quarter to boost Lakeland’s lead to 17-0.

Preston scored on a short pass on the final play of the game — a drive helped out by a couple penalties on Lakeland.

Sophomore Jace Taylor had two interceptions for Lakeland, Schroeder also had praise for the play of defensive lineman Carder Scarcello, a senior.

“The offensive line, for the most part, blocked correctly, and defensively we played well,” Schroeder said. “The effort was there; they had the right intent.”

But the penalties …

“That’s not the type of team we're going to be,” Schroeder said, “and I guarantee that’s going to be fixed.”

Friday's game marked the third straight year the teams opened the season in Butte. Lakeland won 28-0 last year; Preston triumphed 7-6 in 2021.

Lakeland plays host to Lake City next Friday.

Preston 0 0 0 7 — 7

Lakeland 7 7 3 0 — 17

First quarter

LL — Roan Reilly 18 pass from Haydon Benson (Owen Forsmann kick)

Second quarter

LL — Kage Weil 9 run (Forsmann kick)

Third quarter

LL — FG 32 Forsmann

Fourth quarter

Pre — TD pass