Lakewood players and cheerleaders celebrating another victory over Millikan and another year with the Hamilton Trophy. Photos by Matt Cohn.

The Millikan Rams-Lakewood Lancers football rivalry isn’t the oldest in the Moore League, but it’s the most heated, and last Friday’s edition did nothing to simmer it down. In an intense conflict both on and off the field, the host Lancers beat Millikan 34-14 Friday night, got their first win of the year, and continued their dominance of the 58-year-old rivalry.

The schools, two miles apart, share a virtually identical floor plan. Millikan opened in 1956; Lakewood followed in ’57. The Rams and Lancers have developed a seriously bitter and antagonistic sports relationship over the decades. This year, besides the usual chippy play on the field and some tension in the grandstand, there are allegations of a post-game assault in the Millikan locker room committed by people associated with Lakewood.

The Rams and Lancers have been vying for the Hamilton Trophy every year since ’57. New Millikan head coach Derwin Henderson was optimistic about his team’s chances to get the coveted trophy back to Millikan after a 13-year dry spell.

“The kids had a great week of practice, so I think they’re going to have a great showing,” he said before the game.

“You would think that coming off of a really tough pre-season (0-4), the campus would be a little bit down, but it’s actually been the opposite, and I think that’s because of the nature of this game,” said Lakewood Athletic Director Chris Murphy. “Throw in the neighborhood rivalry and the Hamilton Trophy, and it’s a really neat high school experience tonight.”

Lakewood defender closing in on Millikan quarterback John Buksa.

In front of a loud home crowd dressed in black, Lakewood put the Rams in a deep hole early with crisp and aggressive execution on both sides of the ball. Running back Josh Cummings bulldozed up the middle for a five-yard touchdown, cornerback Jaylen McDuffie scored on a swashbuckling 75-yard punt return, and Gabriel Collins took an end-around play 40 yards to the house to make it 21-0.

Penalty flags started flying, particularly against Lakewood (“I think we set a C.I.F. record tonight for flags thrown,” said Lakewood Head Coach Jimmy Nolan after the game). Millikan quarterback John Buksa broke some big runs and, with no time left in the first half, scrambled out of the pocket and found Xavier Cortes in the back of the end zone for Millikan’s first touchdown.

The game got very competitive in the third quarter. Millikan middle linebacker Monty Petersen made his presence known with fierce pursuit and jarring tackles. Better team execution by the Rams and penalties against Lakewood helped swing the momentum Millikan’s way.

Deep in Lakewood territory on a fourth-and-10 play with 4:34 left in the third quarter, Buksa threw to Garet Vergara, who made a leaping catch at the goal line and a great effort to score. Millikan had cut the lead to 21-14, and after Petersen forced a Lakewood fumble at midfield, the Rams looked ready to take over the game.

Lakewood’s defense held, and saved the lead later after the Lancers fumbled deep in their own territory.

Despite losing their first four games, Lakewood was confident taking the field against archival Millikan.

“Our defense bailed us out all night,” said Coach Nolan.

Talaun Patton broke the game open with a tough 30-yard TD run to make it 28-14. Lakewood added a late touchdown on an interception return by safety Styles Hart to seal Lakewood’s first win of the season and the fourteenth straight victory over Millikan.

“This is always the toughest game of the year,and this is the one that hurts way more than every other one,” said Monty Petersen, who shed a tear or two after the game: The all-in linebacker hasn’t beaten Lakewood in his three years as a varsity starter. “It’s been a long drought,” he said.

Coach Nolan, while glad to get a big win, was not pleased with the game.

“I’ve never felt so much like we’ve lost, in a victory, because we shot ourselves in the foot all night,” he said. “I’m very disappointed in our lack of focus, our lack of discipline.”

Lakewood’s win over Millikan puts the Lancers in a prime spot to contend for the second Moore League C.I.F. playoff berth, assuming that yet another powerhouse Poly team doesn’t somehow lose a Moore League game or two. Millikan, a talented team, could play itself back into playoff contention by catching more footballs and establishing the run.

Both schools are tight-lipped about the alleged post-game locker room incident. An investigation is underway.

Editor’s note: Matt Cohn’s father was a member of Lakewood’s first faculty in 1957, and it was Matt’s mother who came up with the name “Lancers.”

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Above:
1) The Hamilton Trophy.
2) The Lakewood marching band serenaded the crowd on a warm autumn night.
3) Millikan cheerleaders.
4) Lakewood cheerleader platform.
5) Millikan cheerleader platform.
6) Millikan assistant coach exhorting his linemen.
7) Lakewood head coach Jimmy Nolan looked more “rock ‘n roll” than “jock.”
8) Millikan head coach Derwin Henderson (blue shirt) late in the 4th quarter.
9) Lakewood junior running back Talaun Patton got the tough yards and a touchdown against the Rams.
10) Millikan middle linebacker Monty Petersen played his heart out.