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Lawrence Lancers Football '08

Fri, Sep 05, 2008 07:00 PM @ Lawrence
Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Malden 7 0 0 0 7
Lawrence 0 7 6 0 13

Lancers earn tough victory

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LAWRENCE — Victory had its price, as opening night took its toll on both Lawrence and Malden.

Losing three starting linebackers could have been disastrous had the Lancer defense not pieced together a pair of heroic fourth quarter defensive stands. Twice Lawrence turned away the Tornadoes inside the 20 to preserve the 13-7 win before about 400 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

“It looks like we’re going in the Central game without three starting linebackers and a starting corner,” said Lancer coach Mike Yameen, who saw heavy hitters Donea Robinson and Francisco Pena go down last night. “This one was costly, but it was still pretty nice to get out with the win.”

Knotted at 7-7 at the half, the Lancers clicked on the one big play of the second half, a 73-yard TD hookup on the halfback pass from Devin Montanez to Demetri Brown.

“The corner bit and I saw he was open,” said Montanez, who has now thrown four career varsity passes, all for TDs. “I get nervous in the huddle when the play is called, but once it’s snapped I’m fine.”

Montanez’ heave stalled in the stiff breeze, forcing Brown to wait and allowing the defense to close in.

Brown looked like he’d be corralled after a 35-yard gain, but the slick senior, who caught two balls on the night, made a savage cut to shake the pack and skip down the sideline for the score.

“They all came up and I was wide open,” said Brown. “I didn’t think I’d score, but when I made the move I found the opening.”

The score stood up as a Lancer defense that was dented all night long on the ground, found a way to slow Malden (43 carries, 178 yards) to a crawl.

Junior Harvey Blanco paced Lawrence with a dozen tackles. Defensive end Pedro Cruz chipped in a sack and two other huge QB pressures when it counted in the fourth.

Robinson and Pena slugged it out until each left the field with leg injuries. Senior Dimar Torres was up to the test at corner, shutting down the outside and supporting in run defense as well.

As if things weren’t bad enough for Malden when it lost QB Marcos Almeida late in the second quarter, the Tornadoes lost another player in the fourth with a serious head or neck injury. He was immobilized and taken via ambulance to Lawrence General Hospital.

Lawrence finished with just 268 yards of offense but capitalized on the long pass in the second quarter to tie the score at 7-7.

Ramon Heredia (8 of 20, 130 yards) connected on a pretty 32-yard corner fade to Mike Calzetta with Brown tacking on the PAT.

The Lancers, who began the night with starting cornerback Pedro Rodriguez in street clothes with a knee injury, now must try to recuperate the wounded in time for Friday night’s intra-city showdown with Central Catholic.

5 Story Comments

0         Lil Pit

it was a good game and we held it togther till tha end...

Report! #1 09/06/2008 12:00 PM

0         Big Lou60

We been down but mark my words"were coming back"!! -Lancer #60 p.s. get used to seeing us win every week...

Report! #2 09/06/2008 07:17 PM

0         jmoney

THE GAME WAS A GOOD AND IT WAS A CLOSE GAME BUT YOU PEOPLE HAVE TO GET USE TO IT..TO SEE LANCERS WINNING ALL THE GAMES ON FRIDAYS.....LANCER #75

Report! #3 09/08/2008 08:47 PM

0         RICKYVALERIO

that night was very emotional 4 every body and we came away with victory

Report! #4 09/09/2008 11:18 AM

0         RICKYVALERIO

vince young all day #10

Report! #5 09/10/2008 11:12 AM