Lakeland had more of a challenge than anticipated, but the Cavaliers’ football team overwhelmed Maury in the second half to win 37-21 at home on Friday night.

“I was pleased with a victory, but I still don’t think we’ve played our best game yet,” Lakeland coach Glenwood Ferebee said.

At halftime, the Cavaliers trailed 15-14, despite a dominant defensive presence in the first half.

“I was kind of surprised,” Ferebee said. “But I didn’t panic, and when I talked to the team at halftime I told them not to panic.”

Senior offensive guard Chris Rodgers was serving a suspension, because officials from last week’s game against Hickory ruled he had thrown a punch at an opposing player. Lakeland is appealing this decision.

Without Rodgers to handle Maury’s blitzes, the Cavaliers put senior wideout Antonio Jefferson in the backfield with running back Raekwon Johnson.

“Jefferson was basically the go-to back,” Ferebee said, “so we could protect (quarterback Zach) Super so he could get the balls off and actually be able to run the football with the two-headed monster.”

The change paid off in a big way. Jefferson ran for 117 yards in the third quarter alone, scoring on a 59-yard run, and Johnson had a 12-yard touchdown run. Super closed out the scoring in that quarter with a 9-yard toss to senior wide receiver Derrick Edghill.

Jefferson finished the game with eight carries for 126 yards and four catches for 86 yards totaling 212 yards of offense and a receiving touchdown as well. Johnson poured in 120 yards on 14 carries.

All of Maury’s scoring came from junior Davion Taylor who had two touchdown receptions and a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. On defense, he also had two interceptions.

Lakeland (3-0, 2-0) visits Western Branch (3-0, 2-0) next Friday.