After last week’s shootout win over Frederick, Lancers coach Rick Connor said the secondary was “under attack” after the Cadets threw for nearly 250 yards to take the game.
After a solid week of practice in preparation for Friday’s game against Middletown, defensive backs MJ Rowlett and Mason Furster were determined to rebound and make an impact against the visiting Knights.
Farster and Rowlett combined to cause three turnovers and each player returned an interception for a touchdown in the first half of a 28-0 shutout victory over Middletown. Ta.
“We talked about it all week because we got off to a great start. We told them, ‘We’re off to a great start.'[Middletown is] We’re the best 2-4 team in the state of Maryland,” Connor said.
Furster credited the Lancers’ scouting team for preparing for the game against the Knights (2-5), who made over 70 plays on offense despite not finding the end zone. , kept the Lancers defense on the field.
“This week we focused on communicating and being in the right spots, and I think that gave us a little bit of a confidence boost,” Furster said. “My scout team really looked at me. They found plays right away, so I didn’t have time to think about coverage. Middletown did just that.”
The Lancers’ (6-1) defense, which had allowed just 33 points in the first five games before last week’s 49-35 win, was dominated by the secondary duo and defensive ends like Caleb Arneson and Joe Reed. Thanks to this, he recorded his fourth shutout. , the latter finished with two sacks.
“Joe is playing great for us,” Connor said. “When they want to throw the ball, he’s a threat and against the run he made some great plays.”
“It’s great to bounce back and lay a goose egg,” Rowlett said. “Our defense is back.”
Lopacienski, who opened the game on Amir Short’s 64-yard kickoff return, showed an opening on the offense’s first play from scrimmage, snatching a 30-yard touchdown pass from Christian Petruzzello just 16 seconds into the game.
Furster, who made several uncomfortable tackles and forced fumbles against the Knights, took a touchdown from quarterback Brittin Poffenbarger with 8 minutes, 55 seconds left in QB to give the Lancers a 14-0 lead. He thwarted Middletown’s opening drive with a 49-yard interception return. .
“The running back flared out and went out, and I went out slow, and Joe [Reed] I tipped the ball and it immediately fell into my hands and there was a green field in front of me,” Farster said.
Reed added, “I didn’t have time to rush, so I just put my hands up. We only had the ball a little bit, but Mason made a great play. It’s really all down to him.”
The Knights went three-and-out on their next drive, but Rowlett came up and made a tackle on a short pass play that resulted in a loss and forced a punt.
Knights manager Colin DeLauter said, “We’re down 14-0 in the first three minutes of the game, but it feels like we’re starting to see our star player.” “Then we made a few more mistakes and I think we all got confused there before settling down in the second half.”
Petruzzello’s 54-yard touchdown run gave the Lancers a 20-0 lead, and then Middletown drove the ball to the Lancers’ 11 with 1:02 left.
On 2nd-and-10, Poffenberger’s pass was intercepted by Rowlett, who ran downfield and weaved through Knights defenders for a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown with 24 seconds left in the first half. .
“I received a regular drop and coach [Mike] “Mars lined me up inside just before that play. He put me in the right position. I caught the ball and my teammates made a lot of blocks,” Rowlett said. Told.
“He picked it and I started celebrating,” Furster said. “Last week against Frederick, I had the pick and I noticed on the film that he was blocking for me. So I wanted to do the same for him. Eventually he took it home.” ,It was the best. ”
The Lancers lined up for a two-point conversion attempt, and a pass from Petruzzello to Lopacienski was on target, giving the Lancers a 28-0 lead going into halftime.
Linganois running back Ethan Arneson led the MPSSAA on Friday with 1,239 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns, but was held to four carries for six yards in the first half, well below his average of eight yards per carry. Ta.
Needing 58 yards to become the first Lancer in history to reach 5,000 rushing yards, Arneson reached the milestone in 5 minutes, 13 seconds on a toss play to his left, then raced upfield for a 47-yard gain and finished. The drive gained 47 yards. Turnover on downs.
The senior, who was crowned Homecoming King at halftime, finished the night with 13 carries for 58 yards.
“His one long run, except we lined up wrong, if we lined up right we would have been in the hole,” DeLoutter said. ”[Arneson] He gives them a great effort and that’s what makes him a great running back. ”
Griffin Sheridan led the Knights with 72 yards on 17 carries.