At right, Lakewood linebacker Rahim Cassell hoists the coveted trophy that goes to the winner of the annual rivalry. Photos by Jim Cayer. Article by Julio Nievas.
Despite early battles with penalties, the Lakewood Lancers still defeated the visiting Mayfair Monsoons, 24-14, adding a ‘W’ to their now 3-0 record and gaining the all-important Milk Bucket in the fierce rivalry.
The Lancers’ running game was their biggest offensive weapon as they mostly rotated senior running backs Allie Long and Rashaad Wadood to disrupt the Monsoons’ front-seven defense. Long had nine carries for 105 yards while Wadood had 10 carries for 64 yards including two touchdowns. After the game, head coach Thadd MacNeal praised both tailbacks.
“Allie was our workhorse tonight,” said MacNeal. “He had some great runs. Him and [Rashaad Wadood] make a great one-two punch.”
Long returned the praise with his own comment about the success of the play-calling by his coach.
“It’s the offense we run that wins us games,” Long, pictured right, said. “Coach Mac puts us in positions to play good and gives the plays to be good.”
The offense took a slow start in consequence with the five penalties they suffered in the first quarter alone. The Lancers scored their first points, the first points in the game, with a 52-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Tyler Schultz to senior fullback Dupree Jordan. Schultz amassed 136 passing yards with the lone touchdown to Jordan.
Monsoons’ running back Dominique Small provided most, if not all, of the offense for Mayfair. The senior running back rushed for 177 yards on 30 carries, for a 5.9 yards per carry average. Small did most of his damage in the first half as the Lancers adjusted to the Monsoon running game in the second half.
“I’ve seen him for three weeks, he’s fantastic,” MacNeal said of Smalls. “Our defense got a little tired. Give credit to Mayfair, we’ll play better next week.”
Lancers senior Todd Barr helped the defense with a game-high two sacks. The defensive lineman along with the rest of the line made it difficult for Monsoons senior quarterback Evan Hunko to be comfortable in the pocket. Hunko had less than 10 passing attempts thanks to the pressure by the defense.
Barr was disappointed in their defense against the rush, but praised the offense that won the game.
“Our defense needs to step up, our offense had a hell of a game,” Barr said. “Our coaches stress perfection and we needed that perfection against the run. We’ll get there, we just need to work more.
“We didn’t do our assignments very well in the first half. The line and our linebackers gave them a lot of gaps. We’ll just have to get back to the playbook and be better.”
The Lancers play next at the Leuzinger High Olympians next Friday at 7:00pm.
Running back Rashad Wadood breaks free.
From left, seniors Theo Sheridan, Kelly Harpham and Eric Wright show off their prize.