Last year Seven Lakes struggled to overcome adversity.

The Spartans were in a number of games last season, but were unable to put together a competitive season, with players having to learn how to respond to pressure and overcome the ups and downs of a varsity game.

But Thursday was the exact opposite for the Spartans. They went through every kind of adversity you could think of in their season opener both in game and with external factors, and still, the Spartans came out on top, beating Memorial 35-28 in overtime to go to 1-0 on the year.

“There were so many things in this game that these guys had to overcome, and I’m just so proud of them,” said Seven Lakes head coach Jimmy Hamon. “Sometimes you go a whole year without playing an overtime game, sometimes you go a whole year without the huge swings in momentum we had right from the beginning and sometimes you go a whole year without having to stop the game and then come back and start right up 30 minutes later. We learned so much today and I’m proud of the way these guys fought.”

It was a late start made even later by a weather delay, but the Spartans started the game off with a bang. On the first play from scrimmage, sophomore quarterback Shaan Patel sold a play action and then hit fellow sophomore Ryan Fowler for a 75-yard touchdown to give the Spartans the lead just nine seconds into the game.

But as soon as that happened, Memorial answered back, returning the ensuing kickoff or a touchdown to tie it. Seven Lakes came back to retake the lead late in the first quarter on a 3-yard Jake Farris run, but Memorial again answered back before the quarter ended with a touchdown of their own to tie it.

Seven Lakes came back went up 21-14 in the second quarter when Patel threw a 10-yard touchdown pass as the Spartans went into halftime with the lead. Patel finished the night with 220 yards passing and three touchdowns, completing 15 of his 26 passes to help lead the Spartans to the win.

“I just had so much confidence from my guys,” Patel said. “From the first play when we dialed that shot I knew that we were going to have a good game I was a bit nervous but everyone picked me up and helped me. We got the job done and I couldn’t be happier.”

The two teams went back and forth without scoring in the third quarter, but Memorial found a way to tie things up again in the fourth. The Mustangs then took a 28-21 lead with five minutes left in the game, but it didn’t phase the Spartans.

Seven Lakes came back and drove down the field and capped off a big drive with Patel throwing an 11-yard touchdown pass to tie the game with 2:46 remaining. Seven Lakes then forced a three and out before driving down the field again, only to miss a game winning field goal as time expired.

But when overtime came it was all Spartans. Jake Farris took the Spartans inside the 10 with some strong runs and Barrett Hudson put Seven Lakes ahead with a 5-yard touchdown run.

Keaton Fowler-Smith sealed the game with an interception on Memorials next drive, the Spartans second of the day after Justin Fowler had recorded an interception in the first quarter.

The Spartans will travel to play Klein next week as they look to continue their winning ways.

“This win was amazing,” Hudson said. “Our entire team came together and we played as one team. It’s been since the Mayde Creek last year since we won a ball game and this just meant a lot. We went through so much last year, losing people, gaining people, new guys stepping up and it’s all worked out. It’s amazing to be a part of a team and for all of us to be unified.”

Seven Lakes 35, Memorial 28

First quarter

SL: Shaan Patel 75 pass to Ryan Fowler (Alex Farinez kick) 11:51

M: Isaac Richardosn 67 kickoff return (Matthew Lewis kick) 11:40

SL: Jake Farris 3 run (Farinez kick) 1:07

M: Jackson Salters 81 pass to Cooper Gindorf (Lewis kick) 0:16

Second quarter

SL: Patel 10 pass to Peter Noonan (Farinez kick) 0:46

Fourth quarter

M: Salters 52 pass to Carson Wall (Lewis kick) 7:07

M: Gindorf 29 run (Lewis kick) 5:05

SL: Patel 11 pass to Carter Hatten (Farinez kick) 2:46

Overtime

SL: Barrett Hudson 5 run (Farinez kick)

Team stats

Individual Statistics

Rushing – Seven Lakes: Barrett Hudson, 28-163-1; Jake Farris, 12-90-1; Shaan Patel, 1-(-5); Ryan Fowler, 1-(-5)); Memorial: Cooper Gindorf, 9-57-1; Corbin Comiskey, 7-32; Jackson Salters, 3-15;  

Passing – Seven Lakes: Shaan Patel, 15-26-220-3-0; Memorial: Chase Goodwin, Jackson salters, 11-20-207-2-2;

Receiving – Seven Lakes: Ryan Fowler, 3-90-1; Carter Hatten, 3-66-1; Barrett Hudson, 2-16; Davis Yates, 2-16; Owen Wade, 3-15; Peter Noonan, 1-10-1; Kaiser Floys, 1-7; Memorial: Cooper Gindorf, 3-113-1; Carson Wall, 1-52; William Fowler, 3-18; Will Van Wie, 2-13; Coe Tredennick, 1-6;