Lakewood comes from behind to stun Prairie

Published 11:20 pm Friday, September 2, 2011

VANCOUVER — Lakewood quarterback Justin Peterson hit Brandon Stott with a 32-yard touchdown pass with 40 seconds remaining as the Cougars came from behind to beat Prairie 36-31 Friday night at Battle Ground Stadium.

“We were just praying that we’d have enough time on that final drive,” Lakewood coach Dan Teeter said. “Once we scored, we were praying that time would run out.”

Time did run out on Prairie after Lakewood defenders Dustin Stanton and Connor O’Kinsella sacked the Falcons quarterback and the Cougars forced Prairie to turn the ball over on downs.

It was a fitting end to a game for Peterson that Teeter said was one of the finest high school performances he’s ever seen. Peterson totaled 350 yards, including three passing touchdowns and one receiving. Peterson also intercepted a pass in his team’s own end zone to thwart a Prairie drive and returned a punt 39 yards for the Cougars.

Trailing 31-30, Lakewood forced Prairie to turn the ball over on downs with 3:02 remaining in the game. On the ensuing drive, Peterson hit Dustin Stanton for 17 yards on a fourth-and-12 play and also scrambled for a key first down to keep the drive alive, setting up the final play.

Stanton finished with eight catches for 92 yards and Stott had seven grabs for 89 yards.

At Vancouver H.S.

Lakewood 8 8 14 6 — 36

Prairie 14 3 14 0 — 31

Lakewood–Stanton 5 pass from Peterson (Bean pass from Peterson)

Prairie–Dalk pass from Seitz (Kick good)

Prairie–Dalk interception return (Kick good)

Lakewood–Peterson 29 pass from Schueler (Evans pass from Peterson)

Prairie–FG

Lakewood–Evans 3 run (Peterson run)

Lakewood–Suddoth 3 pass from Peterson (pass fail)

Prairie–Not reported

Prairie–Not reported

Lakewood–Stott 32 pass from Peterson (pass fail)

Records–Lakewood 1-0 overall. Prairie 0-1.