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Lake View high school football falls to Sweetwater after struggling to limit big plays

Lake View failed to limit big plays from Sweetwater's offense and the special team units as it dropped its home opener Friday night to the tune of 62-35 at San Angelo Stadium.

The Mustang ball carriers ran wild all night, totaling 343 yards rushing which started by returning the opening kickoff to the Lake View 20-yard line before scoring on the ground a few plays later. Whether it was Sweetwater running back Korda Moore, Uriah Martinez or Nick Avila Lake View defenders struggled with missed tackles. The Chiefs kept the game close in the first half, though, thanks to a 97-yard interception return for a touchdown by defensive back Michael Duran.

Lake View went into halftime trailing 36-22 but was outscored by 14 points in the second half despite a 43-yard touchdown reception from Adrian Flores and a 14-yard touchdown reception from Wyatt Henry with around two minutes left in the fourth. Lake View's comeback effort ended after the Mustangs hauled in an onside kick attempt and ran out the game clock.

Sweetwater running back Korda Moore (left) reaches over the goal line for a 2-point conversion before Lake View defensive back Adrian Flores (right) can make the tackle at San Angelo Stadium on Sept. 1, 2023.
Sweetwater running back Korda Moore (left) reaches over the goal line for a 2-point conversion before Lake View defensive back Adrian Flores (right) can make the tackle at San Angelo Stadium on Sept. 1, 2023.

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Friday's Highlights

Wide receiver Adrian Flores blocked an extra point and returned it for two points after Sweetwater's first touchdown. Lake View running back Ian Cortez scored on a 38-yard touchdown run to bring the score within five points early in the first quarter. Duran intercepted Mustang quarterback Caiden Ortiz and returned it for a 97-yard score to keep the game within a touchdown at 26-22. Perez hit Henry for a 20-yard pass down the sideline before halftime. Flores hauled in a 45-yard reception and ran it in for a touchdown to bring the game back to within three scores at 42-29. Wyatt hauled in a 14-yard touchdown pass from Perez for Lake View's last points of the night with less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Friday's Stars

Perez completed 15 of 25 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns passing. Cortez ran the ball 22 times for 167 yards and a touchdown. Henry had seven receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown. Flores had two receptions for 65 yards and returned a kickoff for an 80-yard touchdown. Duran hauled in three passes for 44 yards and had a defensive touchdown.

Lake View quarterback Auston Perez drops back to pass against Sweetwater at San Angelo Stadium on Sept. 1, 2023.
Lake View quarterback Auston Perez drops back to pass against Sweetwater at San Angelo Stadium on Sept. 1, 2023.

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They said it

Coach Hector Guevara on Lake View's mistakes: “Defensively, we gotta stay focused. ... You know, with the excitement and the emotions, the kids want to make a big play, but we gotta stay focused.”

Defensive coordinator Derek Alambar on what the Chiefs' defense can learn from the loss: "We knew Sweetwater was going to be fast and we knew that we were gonna have to run to the football and break down to tackle the ball carrier. And that's just something that we have got to work on every day and improve on as a defense."

This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: High school football: Lake View falls to Sweetwater in home opener