Leyton drops decision to Crawford

DALTON – The Leyton High football team dropped a 60-22 decision to Crawford (3-1) at home on Friday night.

The Warriors fell to 0-4 on the season.

Despite a team-high 175 rushing yards on 22 carries from Kordell Maestas, miscues and penalties stalled the Warriors' offense.

"I saw some great things tonight when we had the ball and were moving it down the field," Leyton coach Glen Lipska said after the game. "It was just the technicalities – snapping the ball, penalties, stuff like that. That's what brings a drive down."

With 2:45 remaining in the second quarter, Maestas found the end zone after a long run to put the Warriors on the scoreboard. The conversion was successful – a pass to Zach Hellie – but Leyton remained behind, 22-8.

After another Ram's score, Leyton went to the halftime break down 30-8. Crawford received the ball first in the third quarter and returned the kickoff for a quick touchdown.

Hellie scored Leyton's two other touchdowns: a pass reception in the third quarter – with a successful conversion on a Kenny Ernest run – and a pass reception in the fourth.

Hellie led the Warriors' in receiving with 91 yards on five receptions. Quarterback Rhett Dye passed for 147 yards.

At the midway mark of the season – four games down and four yet to go – Lipska said the Warriors must remain focused.

"We just have to keep executing, and the biggest thing is staying focused," he said. "We have to stay focused and deal with the penalties. We can't have a drive and the move back 20 or 30 yards."

Defensively, Maestats led the Warriors with nine tackles against the Rams. Rhett Dye had seven, three of which were solo tackles.

Leyton will now be on the road for two weeks. First up is Friday's game against South Platte (2-2).

"Now we have to look at what South Platte is doing and see if we have to change anything, or go with what we've been doing and try to make it better," Lipska said.