Lake Oconee Academy returned to action last Friday, taking on Mount Paran Christian in the 2024 season opener.
With the Titans now eligible for postseason play, starting the season off on the right foot was a big deal to third-year head coach Patrick Stewart. His team defeated the visiting Eagles 16-0 at Tucker Field.
“Winning that game was huge,” Stewart said. “It’s good to have that momentum going into this week.”
On offense, the Titans tallied 195 total yards, with 131 coming from the ground game. The lone touchdown scored on the night was a 32-yard rush by senior wide receiver Hayes Fleming in the first quarter.
“We have a lot of stuff to fix, but a win is a win, and that stuff comes with the first game of the regular season,” Stewart said.
The LOA defense was the story of this game, as it picked up the slack from a struggling offense. The Titans held the Eagles to 143 yards of total offense and forced four turnovers in their first shutout of the year.
“We were trying to get into a rhythm of things offensively, and when you can rely on your defense to get a stop, that’s a huge relief,” Stewart said.
Senior defenders Kaleb Mathis and Reid Davis played a huge part in LOA’s success on the defensive side of the ball. Both Titans had five or more tackles on the night and a tackle for loss.
“They have different jobs, but they did them the best out of anyone on the defense,” Stewart said. “They did a great job all around.”
Cameron Kelley, another LOA senior, also filled up the stat sheet as he tallied a forced fumble and an interception. The Eagles could never get anything going offensively because the Titans were constantly in the backfield.
“Mount Paran was a triple-option team, so everybody had to do their job on every play, or they would gash you if you didn’t,” Stewart said. “So, all the kids did a great job.”
Sophomore kicker Leo Inostrosa was another bright spot for the Titans. He nailed three field goals, all from 40 yards or further.
“He was really consistent, and that helps out your offense when you can’t get into a rhythm,” Stewart said.
The Titans return to their home field at 7:30 p.m. this Friday to play George Walton Academy.