Lakeshore fought hard on the road Friday night but couldn’t overcome costly mistakes in a 42-31 loss to Mattawan. Quarterback Kaden Griffiths sparked the Lancers early with a 65-yard touchdown run on the opening drive and later hit Isaiah Timmons on an 80-yard scoring strike just before halftime to keep the game close. Lakeshore actually outgained the Wildcats 391-267 in total offense and moved the chains 18 times behind Griffiths’ 175 rushing yards and 114 passing yards, but three turnovers — including two interceptions — and nine penalties for 75 yards repeatedly slowed promising drives.
Mattawan made its biggest statement on special teams and defense. The Wildcats’ Blake Mahorney returned the second-half kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown to swing momentum, and Lakeshore’s first possession of the third quarter ended in a fumble deep in its own territory that Mattawan quickly turned into another score for a 35-17 lead. Though the Lancers kept clawing back — Griffiths connected with Timmons for an 8-yard touchdown early in the fourth and Eli Wheaton later hit Griffiths on a 10-yard TD in the final minute — a fourth-quarter pick-six by the Wildcats sealed the game.
The loss drops Lakeshore to 1-5 on the season and will host Battle Creek Lakeview (0-6) on Quality Rock 97.5 The Lake WRRA, while Mattawan improves to 2-4 and now turns its attention to a tough road trip to face St. Joseph next Friday night. That matchup will be carried live on News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM.
