It took a tough first quarter for the Lions to shake the rust off after a bye week, but they stormed back to beat a tough Horsham Hawks squad 19-6. The Golden Boys showed lots of heart, shaking off some early mistakes to play a nearly flawless second half to secure the victory.
After an early Lions turnover, the Hawks kept the ball for entire first quarter and punched the ball in for a score to start the second. But a stout Lions defense held to prevent the extra point and keep the score 6-0 Hawks.
Getting the ball back on offense, the Lions continued to sputter until a brilliant fake punt by Lucas Lasher gained twenty-five big yards and got the Lions within striking distance. Clearing the way for Lasher on the play was a brilliant block by Cameron Tealor that leveled the Hawk’s cornerback. The Lions pushed the ball down to the Hawks’ one before being pushed back to the ten yard line. From there the Lions found familiar magic with QB Mike Fitzgerald threw to Alec Coburn who made a circus catch in the back of the end zone (look for it on ESPN’s Sportcenter tonight) to tie the score at 6. After the Hawks got the ball back, Tommy Cappriotti stepped in to pick off his team leading third pass of the season and the half ended the with the score tied.
At half time, the coaches consulted with Jake Perkins (who stepped in to help the coaching staff after injuring his arm in practice) who had charted the Lion’s offense and came up with a winning second half strategy. They’d rely on the offensive line—the unit that has carried the team all year long—and pound the ball up the middle, daring the Hawks to stop them.
Once again Tyler Brennan at center, Jake Harraka and Capriotti at guard, Ryan Keating and Max Adar at tackle, and Tommy Valleto and Matt Kilgariff the Lions found success. But this inside success was once again aided by Lasher breakaway running on another fake punt. With the ball on the twenty-five yard line after Lasher’s gallop, the Lions called Jack McKenna’s number three times. The last carry resulted in a smash mouth ten-yard run for a score and the Lions were up 12-6. A leaping catch by Lasher at the goal line on the extra point try made the score 13-6.
Now the league leading Lions defense answered the call stuffing the Hawks on four plays. The defensive line was starting to dominate with Connor Schmutz at nose tackle, Chris Braun and Colin Patrick at the tackles, and Blaze Hutkin and Josh House anchoring the ends. Then the outside linebackers, Andrew Whelan and Valleto began to blitz giving the Hawks quarterback no time to throw. Valleto nearly caused an interception delivering a hit that the Hawk’s QB won’t soon forget. The defense’s good work gave the Lions great field position to start their game clinching drive.
First QB Fitzgerald picked up a big first down on a great broken field run and then Cam Tealor picked up tough yardage on a sweep. Lasher made his third big play of the half following blocks from Valleto, Tealor and McKenna to sweep around the left side for the score.
Once again the Lions D took the field and began to roar. After the Lions stuffed two running plays, Linebacker Tommy Lupo picked off an errant Hawks pass and wove his way through Hawks on a scintillating 20 yard return.
The “O2” took the field and while they didn’t find the end zone they ate valuable minutes off the clock as Cappriotti, Brennan, and Blaze Hutkin gained tough yards inside and Coburn and Lupo burst around the ends.
Back on D, the Lions looked hungrier than ever, and this time defensive end House wouldn’t be denied, blasting the Lion’s QB on successive plays and separating him from the ball.
After forcing another four and out, the Lions went back on offense and unveiled “Air Ryan” (Keating). Keating took a pitch from QB Fitzgerald and found Tealor in the flat for a ten yard gain. Cappriotti took it from there nearly running out the clock with bruising inside bursts.
Photos from the game are here.
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