The Lancers looked primed to run away with Friday’s game against cross-town rival Mayfair.  But every step forward was immediately followed by 10 or 15 backwards as Lakewood shot themselves in the foot 13 times for about 155 yards.  The penalties kept the game close, but eventually Lakewood’s talent overcame the mental mistakes, and the Lancers (3-0) beat the Monsoons, 24-7, to keep the coveted Milk Bucket wearing red for another year.

“I like that we played aggressive, but we need to work on our discipline,” said Lakewood coach Thad MacNeal, whose team committed six personal foul penalties.  “We almost beat ourselves tonight.  That’s not taking away anything from Mayfair.  They played hard.  They’re well coached.  We just need to get out of our own way.”

The hard-hitting rivalry game was reflected by the raucous crowd.  The ohhs and ahhs usually followed a big play from the linebackers.  Lakewood’s Trevor Erno and Talia Crichton almost single-handedly held Mayfair to 47 total yards on the ground, while Mayfair’s funky 3-4 shift defense worked only because linebackers Nathan Van Der Linden, Erik Wiersma and Julian Perez were plugging the holes.

In the first half, Lakewood and quarterback Jesse Scroggins put together two eight play drives, and running back Jerry Stone punched in the first two Lancer scores, both from a yard out. 

Down 14-0, Mayfair needed a nudge in the right direction, and Lakewood seemed happy to oblige.  On the next Monsoon possession, the Lancers committed fouls on two third downs to extend the drive.  Mayfair quarterback Jimmy Ohiri took advantage and hit receiver Brandon Estrada on a beautiful corner rout for a 20-yard touchdown.

Still 14-7, Lakewood marched down the field on their opening possession of the second half, but Scroggins’ pass over the middle deflected off his receivers hands, and sophomore safety Theodore Chambers picked it out of the air, returning it to the Lancer 30-yard line.

With their backs to the wall and the Monsoon sideline jumping, the Lancer defense stiffened up and forced a fourth-and-three.  Linebacker Ryan Cummings blitzed through the line and made the drive-stopping tackle on the crucial play, and that was the end of Mayfair’s opportunities.  Even though Lakewood continued to commit silly penalties, Mayfair didn’t get past the Lancer 40-yard line for the rest of the game.

Lakewood tacked on a field goal and a 41-yard touchdown pass from Scroggins to Kevin Anderson to put the game away and secure the precious “Bucket.”  Scroggins finished 13 for 21, 224 yards and a TD, while Anderson caught four passes for 109 yards and a score.  Stone racked up 122 yards on 20 carries, and those two first half touchdowns.