(Above) Running back Rashad Wadood leads the Lakewood rushing attack. Photos by Jim Cayer, article by Julio Nievas.
The Lakewood Lancers lost a tough game to Long Beach Poly last week, but rebounded Friday at home as they blew out the visiting Cabrillo High School Jaguars, 40-14 on a misty night in Long Beach.
While starting quarterback Tyler Schultz had a terrific game throwing for just 78 yards and three touchdown passes, the game ball goes to senior running back Rashad Wadood, who ran for a total of 145 yards. Wadood’s carries skyrocketed from his norm as he was the main back taking the load off an injured Allie Long.
“I had to take over and step up,” Wadood said. “Getting many carries and gaining a lot of yards got me a little tired, but I worked through it.”
While leading 27-0 at the half, Wadood took over Lakewood’s first drive as he played in nine of the 15 total plays in the drive, including a 48-yard gain.
“He’s a fantastic tailback,” head coach Thadd Mac Neal said of Wadood. “I was happy that he was going to get some carries tonight, we need him to play on both sides of the ball.”
The Lancers offense never missed a beat, but their defense was better. The Jaguars never got into a rhythm on offense. Cabrillo quarterback Derek Stewart threw for 166 yards and two touchdowns, but those touchdowns came against Lakewood’s second team defense. Against the first team defense, Stewart only threw a pass completed for 10 yards or more only three times.
In the rushing game, the Jaguars couldn’t run through the Lancer’s starting front seven. The Jaguars’ running backs only managed to record 35 total rushing yards against the Lancer’s defense.
“Defense played great,” MacNeal said. “We got some turnovers, didn’t allow much yards, and troubled their quarterback. I’m pretty happy tonight.”
Lakewood’s defensive highlights came in the red zone, where they forced two fumbles, both recovered, one recovered by defensive lineman Todd Barr, who had a sack.
“Red zone defense is the most important part of our game,” Barr said. “It shows who’s really a man and who’s really a boy, and we stepped up at the plate.”
Barr gave Stewart trouble as he hurried the quarterback five times.
“I thought I played OK, but there’s always room for improvement.”
Barr will visit the Coliseum in Los Angeles tomorrow to attend the Cal-USC game, as he is considered a strong lean for the Bears.
The starters for Lakewood on defense didn’t allow a score. In the fourth quarter, leading 40-0, Cabrillo finally scored on a pass from Stewart to Andrew Foster from 12 yards.
“Our defense didn’t play too well against Poly, obviously,” said Mac Neal. “But we’re always aiming to get better.”
The Lakewood Lancers will play at Panther Stadium next week as they face the Jordan High School Panthers at 7:00pm on Friday. Cabrillo looks to add another win to their league total at Wilson High next week.