... - Sports - Preps - Lancaster

Friday, Oct. 10, 2008

South Pointe 43, Lancaster 7

LANCASTER — Sure, South Pointe has a prolific offense and is ranked among the nation’s best teams, but it’s the defense that continues to shine as the Stallions downed Lancaster 43-7 on Friday at Memorial Stadium.

The Stallions, ranked No. 2 in the state AAAA poll, moved to 7-0 and 1-0 in Region 4-AAAA, while Lancaster dropped to 5-2, 0-1.

Stallions coach Bobby Carroll and his staff hoped to get off to a good start against a very talented Bruins squad. He had his hopes answered midway through the first quarter.

After taking a quick 7-0 lead on its opening drive on a 2-yard plunge by Devin Wherry, the Stallions’ defense capitalized on a backwards pass from the hands of backup quarterback Kendrick Gladden.

The 5-foot-10 sophomore dropped back to pass and tossed the ball to his left, intended for Zed Truesdale. As the ball fell to the ground, an alert Lee Yard scooped up the live ball and returned it 18 yards for the score.

On the Bruins’ next possession, injured quarterback Matt Reese returned under center and was sacked by Darnell Colvin for a 5-yard loss. Two plays later, Colvin nailed Reese again, forcing a fumble that set up the Stallions’ next scoring drive, a quick two-play drive capped off by a 35-yard touchdown reception from Charles Holmes.

Colvin saw limited action in last week’s 28-7 win over crosstown rival Northwestern, but he made up for it with his performance against the Bruins in the region opener for both teams.

“We’ve got some kids on this football team that aren’t selfish at all and don’t mind sitting back and waiting their turn,” Carroll said. “Darnell was chomping at the bit all week to get back in there and play.

“He’s just got tremendous takeoff (speed), and when that ball is snapped, he’s gone.”

Lancaster again failed to get its offense on track after the Stallions’ stifling defense forced a punt. The Bruins were limited to five first downs and 68 total yards.

South Pointe’s Stephon Gilmore, on the other hand, accounted for 187 yards and three touchdowns (two running, one passing). His lone blemish on the night came with 1:27 remaining in the first half when he was picked off by Brandon McGriff.

South Pointe opened the second half with a methodical 10-play, 72-yard scoring drive to take a 36-0 lead. Gilmore polished off the drive with a 6-yard run.

A little over three minutes later, the Stallions scored again on a four-play drive set up by Mike Gaither’s 31-yard interception return. Backup quarterback Corey Rawls connected with Ryan Heitkamp for 19 yards on first down to move the ball to the 14. On the next play, Rawls found Breon Jackson, who fought his way to the 1, where Quentin Darby carried it for the 43-0 lead.

With the Bruins trailing big, coach Bennie McMurray needed a spark to jumpstart his team. McGriff, who earlier picked off Gilmore, returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards down the left sideline to put Lancaster on the scoreboard with 37 seconds remaining in the third.

SOUTH POINTE 43, LANCASTER 7

South Pointe....15.....14.....14.....0.....—.....43

Lancaster.....0.....0.....7.....0.....—.....7

SCORING SUMMARY

SP — Devin Wherry 2 run (Graham Tuttle kick)

SP — Lee Yard fumble recovery (Wherry 2 run)

SP — Charles Holmes 35 pass from Stephon Gilmore (Tuttle kick)

SP — Gilmore 45 run (Tuttle kick)

SP — Gilmore 6 run (Tuttle kick)

SP — Quinten Darby 1 run (Tuttle kick)

L — Brandon McGriff 85 return (Anna Funderburk kick)

TEAM STATISTICS

.....LHS.....SPHS

First downs.....5.....14

Rushes-yards.....32-45.....34-214

Comp-Att-Int .....1-7-0.....8-13-1

Passing yards.....26.....131

Fumbles-lost.....1-1.....0-0

Penalties-yards.....5-30.....7-65

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING —  Lancaster: Jamais Clark 15-31, Shane Carter 1-13, Zed Truesdale 7-15, Kendrick Gladden 3-(-17), Jakeem Brown 1-4, Matt Reese 4-(-1), Wilric Waiters 1-0. South Pointe: Raphael Ratliff 3-39, Wherry 7-23, Gilmore 8-88, Darby 5-16, CC Jones 9-47, Corey Rawls 2-1.

PASSING —  Lancaster: Gladden 1-5-26-0, Reese 0-2-0-1. South Pointe: Gilmore 6-10-99-1, Rawls 2-3-32-0.

RECEIVING — Lancaster: Michael Catoe 1-26. South Pointe: Wherry 1-8, Holmes 3-59, Breon Jackson 3-45, Ryan Heitkamp 1-19.

RECORDS — Lancaster 5-2, 0-1 Region 4-AAAA. South Pointe 7-0, 1-0.