Lake City wins football season opener

The Lake City Panthers kicked off their 2009 football season with a 34-13 win over South Columbus while on the road Friday night.

Shon Carson rushed for 154 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, and DaShawn Butler rushed for 100 yards and passed for 103 yards for Lake City.

The Panthers struck in the first quarter, when Butler broke free on a 77-yard touchdown run. Butler then connected with De’Charles Burgess for the two-point conversion and an 8-0 lead.

Lake City extended its lead to 15-0 later in the quarter on Carson’s 75-yard scoring run and Martin Cooper’s PAT kick. Lake City scored two more touchdowns in the second quarter, when Butler hit Burgess on a 47-yard touchdown pass with just over 10 minutes left in the first half.

Sheldon Robinson gave the Panthers a 27-0 halftime lead with a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown. Carson scored again late in the third quarter on a 15-yard run. Cooper’s PAT gave Lake City a 34-0 lead.

South Columbus scored on a 62-yard run with 2:22 left in the third period and again on a 33-yard run with 2:55 remaining in the fourth. The Panthers are off this Friday, but will travel to East Clarendon next Friday.