Scoreboard watchers got what they expected with the Lakewood/Mayfair rivalry game last night as the Lancers took back the Milk Bucket, 35-7. However, the first three quarters were even closer than the 14-7 score reflected, and one fourth down stop turned the tide.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, quarterback Jesse Scroggins found receiver Ron Lewis in the back of the end zone to go up 21-7 and start the most lopsided quarter of this young season, but the second half didn’t start that way.
On the first drive of the second half the Monsoons marched 80 yards to the Lakewood four yard line behind some great running from Dominique Small (13 carries, 60 yards, TD). But on fourth-and-one, the Lancers stiffened up and stopped Small on a dive up the middle. Lakewood proceeded to eat up the rest of the quarter and capped their 96-yard drive with the touchdown pass from Scroggins to Davis.
“We can be so explosive, but we didn’t play smart football in the first half,” said Lakewood coach Thadd MacNeal. Last week the Lancers didn’t play smart football either, but in the nearly flawless second half against Mayfair, as MacNeal shrugged after the game, “we looked like Lakewood.”
Following their 80-yard drive, the Monsoons were limited to 23 yards on 16 plays for the remainder of the game. The Lakewood defense also forced three turnovers, one of which was an interception that defensive back Andrew Diaz returned 20 yards for the touchdown.
In the first quarter, the Lancers looked like they were well on their way to a blow out win as they moved the ball with ease on the opening drive. Scroggins capped the 64-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Justin Utupo. Scroggins finished the night 18-for-25 with 234 yards and three touchdowns, but the running game was the key.
Rotating running backs Alley Long, Rashad Wadood and Terrance Woods combined for 165 yards on 22 carries (7.5 yards-per-carry) and 58 receiving yards.
“We’re growing up right now,” said MacNeal. “Guys like Long and Wadood are juniors now and they’re getting a chance, and some carries… they are great backs, and now their making the most of their opportunity. We need to continue to get better every week.”
“Sometimes it’s frustrating because you want to be in there getting carries,” said Long of the revolving door at running back. “But when you come in you’re fresh and ready to go. It’s working really well right now.”
After Long took it in from five yards out for a 14-0 lead, Mayfair rebounded and put together their best drive of the night. Small snuck in on fourth down from a yard out after the 70-yard drive ate up almost seven minutes. The drive was aided by Lakewood penalties (7 for 85 yards on the night) and everyone knows that will need to be addressed.
“We need to clean up the penalties,” said Scroggins after the game. “But we’ve always been a second half team. I remember my freshman year we were down by like 21 points… we just need to finish like we did tonight.”