9/16/16
Lakes 41, Wilson 14
(Lakewood, WA) The Lakes Lancers opened up league play in the new Pierce County League with unbeaten Wilson and off a non-league drubbing from Bellarmine Prep. The Lancers were determined to find their offense and defense and both came roaring out of the gate in the 1st half.
Lakes would take advantage of a Wilson fumble and Manny Borrero-Lewis would fall on it on the 37-yard line of the Rams. Melvin Miller would take charge on this series for the Lancers with a 15-yard run to the 22. Na’Hoku Agor would give Lakes a 1st and goal with a run to the 9 and Miller would cap off the drive taking it in the final 9 yards and was sprung by a key block from Agor. Liam Bladow added the PAT and it was 7-0 with 6:55 to play in the 1st.
After a 3 and out as the Lancer defense stuffed the Rams they took over on their own 32. After 7 running plays and marching down the field picking up chunks of yardage the Lancers were hit with an illegal block and were facing 2nd and 21. Agor got the call and ripped off 18 yards but spun in an effort to gain more yardage at about the Rams 20-yard line when Marquis Jenkins made an incredible strip play taking the ball from Agor and Wilson had the ball back on their own 25 still down just 7-0.
On the very next play Rams QB Alex Motonaga no doubt would like to have this play back as he tried to roll to his left and get the ball to Donavion Holmes when the ball was knocked free and Lakes recovered it on the Wilson 16. After a run for no gain, Lancer QB Dylan Craker play-actioned and dropped back to find an open Cale Lindsay over the middle and the big tight end pulled in the 2nd Lakes score of the night. The PAT was wide left but Lakes led 13-0 with 25-seconds to play in the 1st.
After another 3 and out Lakes, who had been getting close to blocking Alek Greenfield’s punts again applied the pressure and this time big Xavier Banner got a piece of the kick and Lakes was right back in business inside the Wilson 20. On the 3rd play from the 9, Mick Johnson ran it in with 9:44 to play making it 19-0. It would remain 19-zip when the 2-point try failed.
On the next Rams possession JaKai Cavness would make our ProActive Physical Therapy Play of the Game when he snatched a Motonaga pass out of the air with a 1-handed interception. Lakes would pound another TD in later in the 2nd when Miller broke free from the 14. Miller would then run in the 2-point conversion to make it 27-0 and that’s how it would end at halftime.
At the break Lakes certainly dominated with 228 total yards, 212 on the ground led by Miller’s 112 and 2 TD’s while the Rams managed only 15 yards of offense.
As the 2nd half began Wilson came out and put on couple of nice drives but came up empty. The Rams defense was more stingy as well shutting out the Lancers in the 3rd, in fact neither team scored until the 5:44 mark of the 4th quarter.
Wilson would finally get on the board when Lakes pass interfered with the Rams but there is no automatic 1st down anymore and still set up a 4th and goal from the 8. Motonaga then scrambled on 4th down and ran the ball in with less than 6-minutes to play. The PAT failed and it was 27-6.
Lakes fired right back and that man Melvin Miller did the damage from the Wilson 35 he ran it down to the 1 and the punched it in making it 34-6.
Wilson would not quit and answered with another great Motonaga 18-yard scramble to keep the drive alive, then he hit Tevin Hill on a middle screen for the 13-yard TD. Elijah Jones caught the 2-point conversion pass in the back of the endzone to make it 34-14 with 2:41 to play.
Lakes got the ball back and looked content to run the clock out but Aamaree Harrington was handed the ball on a straight dive play at the Wilson 44 and would go untouched all the way to paydirt for a touchdown. Bladow hit the PAT for the final point in the game and Lakes secured their 41-14 win.
Lakes racked up 364 total yards led by Miller’s 23 carries for 165, 3 touchdowns and a 2-point conversion. Harrington ran for 99 and TD, Mick Johnson ran for another score and the final TD was the Craker to Lindsay 16-yard connection.
Wilson looked like the team everyone thought they’d see in the 2nd half with 155 yards for a total of 170 for the game. Motonaga led the way running for 95 and a TD and throwing the screen pass to Hill for 13 yards and the score. Wilson drops to 0-1 on PCL play and 2-1 overall while Lakes is 1-0 in league and 1-2 overall. The Lancers are at Lincoln next week while Wilson heads to Spanaway Lake.
Our Tommy Lowe of Greene Realty Players of the Game were Melvin Miller for Lakes and Marquis Jenkins for Wilson.
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