GAINESVILLE -- The bad weather didn’t scare away Commerce’s offense.
The Tigers (3-5) racked up 442 total yards in a 47-7 whipping of Lakeview Academy at a water-logged Jock Hornor Stadium Friday.
Commerce led 27-0 at halftime.
“It was just a good feeling at halftime to have a cushion and have the JV put in and not have to worry about anyone getting hurt,” Tiger running back Jon Cash said. “It was just a good region win.”
Lakeview, a small, private school in Gainesville playing its first year of varsity football, offered little resistance as Commerce's Deon Orsborne scored three times to lead the Tigers. The versatile Orsborne snagged touchdown passes of 35 and 73 yards and added another score on the ground as Commerce recorded its most lopsided win of the year.
Freshman quarterback Cody Streetman, taking over for an injured Phillip Edwards, threw both touchdown tosses to Orsborne as Commerce amassed 125 yards through the air.
The Tigers were even better on the ground where they churned up 317 yards on the soggy turf. Five different Commerce players found the endzone in the rout.
It was also a big night for the Tiger defense, which limited Lakeview to just three yards passing.
The game was over by halftime as Commerce put four touchdowns on the scoreboard in the first half, starting with a four-yard score on a quarterback keeper from Edwards on the sixth play of the game.
The Tigers then shook off a fumble and interception on subsequent possessions to strike for 20 points in the second quarter. Orsborne scored from a yard out early in the period and then hauled in his 35-yard touchdown reception to pad the Tiger lead at 20-0. Travaris Glasper added the final score of the opening half with a five-yard touchdown.
However, Commerce saved the highlight of the game for those who hung around for the third quarter. That’s when Orsborne caught a pass from Streetman, eschewed the grasp of a Lakeview defender and dashed down the right sideline for a 73-yard score.
Carl Allen, one of four quarterbacks employed by Commerce Friday, added a seven-yard touchdown late in the third quarter and Demetris Bonds found the end zone from 19 yards out late in the fourth.
Lakeview denied the Tiger defense its first shutout since 2006 with a 61-yard touchdown run with 4:32 left.
The victory keeps Commerce’s hopes alive for a no. 3 seed out of the region in the state playoffs. The Tigers head into their big region matchup next week with Social Circle at 2-2 in the region and 3-5 overall.
“Right now, we’re just hoping to get to .500 and win the last two games,” Cash said.
