Lakeland High School’s football team was coming off its first win of the season entering Monday night’s showdown against Deep Creek High School, and the Cavaliers showed they were hungry for another victory.

Inclement weather had delayed Lakeland’s game against the Hornets from Friday to Monday, and it made for a muddy field at Deep Creek Middle School, but the Cavaliers never trailed and pulled away for a 30-13 win.

“We played our best football, offensively, defensively and special teams this week,” Lakeland coach Kevin Knight said. “I was worried about the kids coming out rusty, but they actually came out ready to play.”

Special teams helped set up the first score of the game. As the Cavaliers punted to Deep Creek, the punt returner dropped the ball, and Lakeland senior DeAndre Drayton was there to recover it.

The Cavs offense struggled to capitalize but ended up putting some points on the board via an 18-yard field goal from junior kicker Adam Worley.

In the latter half of the second quarter, Lakeland’s offense overcame its struggles to find the end zone when freshman Tyquan Holloman scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak. He helped set it up with an approximately 50-yard pass to Drayton, who was tackled at the one-yard line.

The Cavaliers held a 9-0 advantage at halftime and maintained that lead throughout the third quarter.

Both teams saved most of their point-scoring for the last five minutes of the fourth quarter.

Lakeland started things off when Holloman threw a 67-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Derrick Grant with 5:03 remaining.

“He got better this week,” Knight said of Holloman, noting he threw no interceptions, had 118 yards passing, was poised and made plays for the team when it needed him to.

The Hornets made the score 16-6 with 3:29 to go in the game off of a 29-yard touchdown pass, which Knight said was the result of a blown coverage by the Cavaliers.

Lakeland’s offense responded less than a minute later, though, when junior running back Damontra Milteer scored on a two-yard run to make it 23-6.

That lead grew to 30-6 with 58 seconds remaining when junior defensive lineman Demetrius McKinney scooped up a fumble — forced by sophomore cornerback DeAndre Little — and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown.

In the game’s final seconds, Deep Creek scored on a 65-yard run.

It did not distract too much from a positive performance by Lakeland, though, as Knight spread praise around to a variety of players.

He noted senior linebacker Monte Hillard had a great game, accounting for two of the defense’s four forced fumbles and getting some key stops in the backfield.

“Drayton played a good game on special teams, on offense and defense,” Knight said.

The coach highlighted Grant and said he showed the potential on Monday that coaches have been seeing in practice.

Knight also praised Worley for strong play in the kicking game.

Lakeland High School (2-3) hosts King’s Fork High School (4-1) on Friday.