Hawks Season Comes to an Abrupt Halt
October 31, 2022
In the midst of nearly 20 hours of travel, the Lakeland Hawks played their final football game of the 2022 season on a bitter October night in Pocatello, Idaho. The Pocatello Thunder(5-4) defeated the Lakeland Hawks(7-3) 20-14 in an intense first-round playoff game.
The season-ending loss included four fumbles for the Hawks, including a fumble inside the 5-yard line to lose the game. The Hawks played strong, disciplined football to start the game, but a sloppy second half ended in a heartbreaking loss.
Hawks offense attacked the Thunder defense with truckloads of runs and sweeps and smashmouth football. All-state running back John Cornish was an absolute workhorse and rushed for 200 yards against Pocatello’s defense.
However, the Pocatello defense stepped up when it mattered and forced two fourth-quarter fumbles sealing the Hawk’s fate. This would have been Lakeland’s first postseason victory in 15 seasons.
Lakeland only passed the ball ten times all game and completed three passes for 53 yards. Despite not having many opportunities to air the ball out, quarterback Caysen Loutzenhiser helped the Hawks find the endzone for a rushing score one minute into the second quarter.
After allowing 17 unanswered points, the Hawks fell in their third and final loss in an overall successful season.
