COAL MOUNTAIN — Lambert scored the final 21 points to rally for a wild 48-40 Region 5-AAAAAAA win over North Forsyth Friday night at Raider Valley.
North Forsyth (4-3, 1-1 Region 5-AAAAAAA) led by 13 points twice in the after scoring 13 points in the final 3:13 of the first half to take a 33-20 halftime lead. They would lead 40-27 midway through the third quarter on a 20-yard pass from Ben Bales to Nicky Dalmolin.
Bales finished with 296 yards passing going 23-of-36 with four touchdowns, but he also had two big interceptions. Wide receiver Simon Holcomb had another huge night with 11 catches for 218 yards and two touchdowns.
But the Longhorns (4-3, 2-0) countered with big plays, mainly from running back Justin Bruno and receiver Tyler Gillis. Bruno, who finished with 256 yards rushing on 24 carries, had long scoring runs of 74, 79, to go with a 37-yarder to give them the final score of the game.
Gillis had touchdown catches of 78 and 75 yards and finished with 176 yards on just four receptions.
The two teams jockeyed back-and-forth in the first half with the lead changing hands four times before the Raiders’ Arthur Boyzo broke a 20-20 tie with a 32-yard field goal with 3:13 left in the second quarter. Gavin Schubiger extended the North Forsyth lead moments later with a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown and Boyzo added another 32-yard field goal on the final play of the half for a 33-20 lead.
But they could hold it as Gillis cut the lead to 33-27 early in the third quarter on a 75-yard touchdown reception and his 13-yard scoring catch with 11:20 left in the game would give them longhorns the lead for good.
The raiders have another tough matchup next week traveling to take on South Forsyth needing a win to stay alive in the playoff race with west Forsyth and Milton to close out the season.
