Stephanie Sturgis - Press Sports Editor
Posted: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 5:30 pm

Wide open spaces — Thanks to work by his offensive line, Gleason senior Cody Ezell has a huge hole to run through during scrimmage action with the Lake County Falcons on Friday night at Dyer County High School in Newbern.

The Gleason Bulldogs were their own worst enemy in their first scrimmage of the preseason.
The Dawgs committed penalties and turnovers aplenty while allowing big plays to the Lake County Falcons when they squared off in the First Look Scrimmage Friday night at Dyer County High School in Newbern. Lake County finished with a 14-6 win.
The outing left GHS head coach Noah Lampkins unwilling to make a comment about his team's showing.
The Dawgs first two drives both lasted just three plays before a punt was needed.
Lake County — the team that eliminated Gleason from the 2008 playoffs with an overtime victory — struck quickly when a gaping hole in the line paved the way for a 65-yard run to the end zone. The kick split the uprights for a 7-0 Falcon lead.
The Falcons did Gleason a favor on their second drive. A high shotgun snap was scooped up by Dawg senior Matt Mayo, setting up Gleason at the LC 25. Nicky Spain capped the short drive with a 9-yard run that ended with him fighting his way into the end zone. The kick was wide leaving LC in front, 7-6.
After the teams traded possessions, the Falcons again struck quickly with a play action fake that resulted in a 75-yard TD strike. Again the kick was good for a 14-7 Lake County edge.
Nick Poore picked off a Falcon pass to give the Dawgs another possession. On the lengthiest GHS drive of the evening, quarterback Conner Verdell gained 13 yards on a sneak to convert a fourth down, but two penalties and two sacks snuffed the drive.
Gleason will play in the Ken-Tenn Jamboree on Friday night at South Fulton. The Dawgs will take on Reidland at 7 p.m. Gleason's first regular season game of 2009 will be at Fulton City on Aug. 28.