PREP FOOTBALL: Glenwood wins game, loses coach at Lakeside

EUFAULA — Glenwood won its first football game of the season Thursday evening, but the celebration was bittersweet.

Just minutes after the Gators defeated Lakeside, 20-13, Glenwood coach Chris Holmes told his players that he was stepping down as football coach.

Holmes, who teaches physics, calculus and algebra at the school, said it wasn’t fair to his players or his students to continue serving in both capacities, and that the players deserved a full-time football coach. He said he planned to continue as a teacher at the school and would be willing to help the new football coach in any way he can.

“When I took the job two years ago, I said I would keep the job as long as I felt I was doing the best job teaching and coaching football as I could,” Holmes said. “When it’s not football season, it goes pretty smooth. When it is, I don’t feel like I do a good job in either of them.

“I’m a better teacher than I am a football coach. And the school needs me more in that capacity.”

He fought tears as he made the announcement to players, cheerleaders, parents and students.

Several players also became emotional as they hugged their coach and thanked him for his hard work.

Glenwood saved its best for last, scoring 20 unanswered points in the second and third quarters before holding off a late Lakeside charge.

“We’re so much better than we were at the beginning of the year,” Holmes said. “We would have lost to (Lakeside) earlier this season.”

Senior Will Prickett’s 1-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter gave the Gators a 20-7 lead. Lakeside cut the lead to 20-13 with 4:27 remaining in the game after Billy Metzler scored on a 4-yard run.

But the Gators were able to run out the clock. The Chiefs blew their best chance to get the ball back after being called for an offside penalty when the Gators faced fourth-and-1 from their 45.

Lakeside scored on its first possession after Stone Jackson found senior Jay Weston open down the left sideline for a 37-yard touchdown completion. Mack Goff kicked the extra point, and the Chiefs led 7-0 less than five minutes into the game.

Glenwood scored its first points in the second quarter, when Judson Humphries scored from 14 yards on a sweep to his left. Carson Bowens tied the game with his extra point kick.

The game was tied 7-7 at halftime, but Glenwood scored twice in the second quarter. The first score came on an 81-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Daley to Prickett. The freshman quarterback found the senior back open over the middle for the easy score. The second score was Prickett’s 1-yard touchdown run.

Holmes commended his team’s two seniors, Prickett and cornerback Elliott Lynn, for their play against Lakeside and their leadership throughout the season.

“It means a whole lot to me to go out with a win,” Holmes said. “I didn’t tell the guys until after the ballgame because I wanted the focus to be on our two seniors, and not getting the win for me.

“I wanted them to go out and get the win for those seniors, and they did.”

Lakeside finished the season at 1-8.

Staff Writer David Morrison contributed to this report.