By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Aug. 1, 2003
Lake is one of those schools whose enrollment fluctuates just enough to keep it alternating classifications when the MHSAA members realign every two years.
This fall finds Lake moving back up to Class 2A.
The Hornets will join Newton, Clarkdale, Philadelphia, Kemper County, and Williams-Sullivan in Division 5-2A.
The Hornets will also find half of their 2003 schedule coming against teams they've never played before. Newcomers are Kemper County, Williams-Sullivan, Carthage, Raleigh, and Morton.
They've only faced Madison St. Joseph four times and that was when the school was based in Jackson.
And the last time the Hornets tangled with Philadelphia was way back in 1936.
Missing from the 2003 schedule are old Scott County rivals Scott Central and Sebastopol. As members of Region 3-1A, they're both in an 11-team league which gives its members just one open date to work with.
Lake and Scott Central have met every year since 1964, with the Hornets holding a 31-9 series advantage. Lake and Sebastopol haven't missed a year since 1991 with the Hornets owning a 30-8 series bulge.
A year ago, coach Ed Amis' Hornets finished 8-5 in Class 1A, reaching the second round of the state playoffs.
Lake opens its 2003 season at home on Aug. 28 against Morton in the first meeting with the Panthers.
The Hornets go to Raleigh on Sept. 5 for their first meeting with the Lions. Many Hornet fans will be familiar with Raleigh first-year head coach Durwood Anderson, who was 20-3 at Lake from 1984-85.
The third week finds Lake meeting yet another new face when the Hornets host Carthage on Sept. 12.
Lake hosts Madison St. Joseph on Sept. 19. The Hornets are 4-0 against the Bruins. Lake and Enterprise renew their rivalry on Sept. 26 at Enterprise. Enterprise has an 8-3 series lead.
Oct. 3 finds the Hornets going to Clarkdale. Lake leads the series 11-3-1. The 55 points Clarkdale scored on Lake in 1963 are the most the Hornets have allowed since reviving their program that fall after a 10-year layoff. Lake put up 70 points on Clarkdale in a 70-12 blowout in 1987.
On Oct. 10, Lake hosts Philadelphia. The Tornadoes hold a 3-0 series edge in games played from 1926-36. This will be Philadelphia's first visit to Death Valley, however.
Lake opens a new series at DeKalb with Kemper County on Oct. 17.
The Hornets host Newton on Oct. 24. Newton leads the series 2-0 following last year's 7-6 overtime win also at Lake.
Lake closes out the regular season with schedule newcomer Williams-Sullivan on Oct. 31 at Durant.