ST. PETERSBURG - Joe Gamble rushed for two scores and Northeast repeated last year's season-opening performance with a victory over Lakewood.
The Spartans have lost 11 straight regular-season games.
The Vikings grabbed the advantage with a game-opening 80-yard drive. Chris Bench and Nadier Yacoub connected on a 44-yard pass, the longest Northeast play from scrimmage. The play set up Gamble's first touchdown from 11 yards out.
Lakewood capitalized on Viking mistakes in the second. They recovered a fumbled punt deep in Northeast territory, leading to a Kevin Larsen 37-yard field goal and a 10-3 deficit.
The Vikings closed out the scoring in the third when Gamble ran it in from 12 yards out.
PLAY OF THE GAME: Trailing 10-3 with time for one more play, Lakewood's Chris Bryant connected with Louis Murphy for a 45-yard touchdown pass. A missed extra point brought the Spartans within one going into halftime.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: For the Vikings - Bench (8-of-11 passes, 107 passing yards) and Gamble (two TDs, 17 carries, 87 yards). For the Spartans - Murphy (3 catches, 70 yards) and Larsen (2-and-2 field goals).
KEY STATISTIC: The Spartans had 146 yards total offense with 40 yards rushing. The Vikings countered with 199 yards and 92 yards rushing.
THEY SAID IT: "We fumbled the punt and then we had a stupid 15-yard penalty. We gave them two easy ones. (Lakewood) can play some defense. They were much more physical than we were." - Northeast coach Jerry Austin.
