Sycamore 28, Lakota East 7

CINCINNATI - The Sycamore Aviators took a step closer to earning a post-season berth by knocking off the Lakota East Thunderhawks in our US Marines Backyard Battle on Homecoming Night in Liberty Township, 28-7.

After a scoreless opening quarter of play Sycamore (6-1, 3-1) put the first points of the night on the scoreboard when Markus James rushed in to the end zone for six yards out less than two minutes into the second quarter. After a failed kick Sycamore led 6-0.

Lakota East (5-2, 3-1) responded later in the quarter with their only touchdown of the game with 20-yard rushing TD by Bobby Brown as the Thunderhawks took a 7-6 lead.

From there it was all Aviators. James returned the ensuing kickoff 49 yards to give Sycamore a short field and quarterback Greg Simpson made the Thunderhawks pay as he punched in a 1-yard touchdown with less than two minutes left in the half. Simpson found James in the corner of the end zone on a short-pass to successfully complete a two-point conversion and give Sycamore a 14-7 lead at the break.

Coming out of the locker room it was all Sycamore. Simpson would add two more touchdowns on runs of four and 13 yards as the Aviators put the game away. The senior finished with 196 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. James finished with 129 yards and a score on 25 carries.

Brown ran for 89 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries for the Thunderhawks in the loss.

Sycamore welcomes Princeton next Friday night while Lakota East travels to Mason as GMC play continues.