Lakeview’s football team pulled away early against Apalachee’s junior varsity squad and held off the Wildcats late for a 33-26 win Thursday in Barrow County.

Junior quarterback Haughton Carswell escorted the Lions (5-0) to a 33-6 lead with two first-quarter touchdown runs, followed by a touchdown pass and another scoring run in the second half. His 80-yard run opened the scoring and was followed by a 35-yard touchdown run. Fullback Patrick McCormack extended the Lakeview lead when he punched it in from 1 yard out in the second quarter.

Carswell opened the second half by connecting with Nick Saye on a 25-yard touchdown pass, then finished Lions’ scoring with a 15-yard run in the fourth quarter.

The Lions return to action at 7:30 p.m. next Friday with their second varsity game when they play host to Pace Academy.

The Buford High softball team fell to Greater Atlanta Christian 1-0 Thursday night in the Region 6-AA Championship game.

The game winning run was scored in the eighth inning as GAC’s first basemen Mady Baker drove in the Lady Spartans runner from third.

Melissa Higginbotham went the distance for the Lady Wolves, stiking out seven, allowing four hits and walking two batters.

Buford earns a second seed in the North Sectional Tournament, which begins Friday in Rome.

Volleyball

Gainesville dropped a pair of matches in non-region action Thursday night.

Habersham Central handed the Lady Red Elephants a 25-13, 25-17 defeat in which Gainesville was led by Taylor Ricketts’ four assists, four blocks, four digs and three kills.

Clarke Central then defeated Gainesville, 25-12, 25-14. Ricketts again led the Lady Red Elephants, posting six assists, four kills and four digs.

Loren Thomas contributed with five kills and three assists in the two losses.

Gainesville open Region 7-AAA tournament play at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday against Chestatee at North Hall High.

Chestatee swept by Riverwood

The Lady War Eagles fell to Riverwood 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-17) Thursday night in non-region play.

Madison Yates led Chestatee with four kills, two blocks and two digs, Erica Lackey added six kills and a pair of digs, and Charlotte Hill chipped in with nine assists.

Johnson defeated North Oconee 2-0 (26-25, 25-19) and Lakeview Academy 2-1 (27-25, 13-25, 25-16) Thursday night.

Shelley Farley led the Lady Knights with 31 assists. Jordan Howard added 15 kills, while Jordan Gustavel recorded seven aces and five kills.

West Hall defeated Providence 2-0 (25-22, 25-16), but fell to Brookwood 2-1 (22-25, 28-26, 14-25) Thursday night.

Kayla Davis led the Lady Spartans with 13 digs and 10 assists. Whitney Delp added seveen digs, six assists, three kills and three aces.

In West Hall’s second match Davis had 10 digs and 14 assists. Delp recorded 13 digs, nine kills and four assists, while junior Abigail Grindle had five aces, five digs and 7 kills.

Lawson leads Buford in tri-match split

The Buford volleyball team lost to Grayson 2-0 (25-21, 25-23) and beat North Gwinnett 2-1 (25-20, 24-26, 25-17) Thursday night.

Cami Lawson led the Lady Wolves (13-20) with six kills in the first match against Grayson and 10 kills in the second match.

Liz Darden added 16 digs for Buford in its match against Grayson while Hallye Jerkins had seven kills and Lady Wolves’ setter Ansley Roper 17 assists in its win against North Gwinnett.

Buford returns to action at 9 a.m. Saturday in its area tournament being held at Greater Atlanta Christian. They play Providence in the first game.