The Lakers edged past Buffalo 14-7 in their regular-season opener on Wednesday night. It was a far cry from their previous outing, when they dismantled the Golden Eagles 38-10. This time around, the offense found no answer for the visitors' defence.
Fourteen points is not a great deal in football, and the Lakers worked hard for every one. The defence kept its side in it when the attack stalled, and that kept them ahead. One mistake ends it, and this game had little room for errors.
Buffalo kept their side in it for long stretches, but they could not find a way through. The visitors had moments, but the Lakers held firm when it mattered most. The clean-sheet run came to an end, but the result was enough.
Wednesday's win puts the Lakers ahead of Buffalo in the standings. Both sides now have one point from one game, but the Lakers lead on points difference. The Golden Eagles sit top with three points after their thrashing of Buffalo.
It was a different kind of match from the opening round. The Lakers did not dominate, but they did not lose. The defence did the talking tonight, and the attack found its rhythm when it had to. The season is long, and this was only the first step.