SPORTS

Bump in road tests Lakewood’s character

Kurt Snyder
Reporter

HEBRON - Lakewood hit its first bump in the road this past Saturday, and coach Craig Conley admitted concern.

Conley believes his team will face adversity from a 30-10 loss to Newark Catholic, but the Lancers continue to be traveling in uncharted territory this season. They enter Friday’s game at Licking Valley with a better record than the Panthers for the first time in recent memory.

“You are always concerned,” Conley said. “Anything that you start off the way that we did and you have something like this happen, it’s all about how you respond. We have been talking about it: that’s the true mark of a program and how much you’ve grown up. It really comes down to these guys and how they respond to see if we have taken those true steps forward.”

NC had the better of the big plays, but the Lancers certainly were not overmatched. They forced five turnovers and had a number of chances in the first half to grab momentum.

The Green Wave kicked a field goal after Lakewood missed one to take a 17-3 lead into halftime. NC then scored on the opening drive of the third quarter, and that proved to be too big of a hole for the Lancers.

“Offensively, we were out of sync. Our timing was really bad tonight,” said Conley, whose team negated the NC turnovers with four of its own. “A lot of fundamental stuff: not running or breaking on routes properly, not handling the ball when we have the opportunities to do things. It was a sloppy performance by us.”

The Lancers sustained drives using both the power formations they showed against Utica in Week 4 and their traditional spread look.

With Painter and Chase Shaffer alternating runs in the first quarter, Lakewood ate more than eight minutes off the clock. Painter then hit Alex Poling for 21 yards on a bootleg to move the ball to the NC 8-yard line, but the Lancers settled for a field goal.

After NC took that 24-3 lead in the third quarter, passes to Branson Hinkle and Cameron Downs set up Shaffer’s 1-yard touchdown run. He was held to 31 yards on 13 carries by NC, but has proven to be an explosive complement to Painter. Painter and Shaffer combined for more than 200 yards rushing apiece in victories against Berne Union and Utica.

“I knew that I had some big shoes to fill,” said Shaffer, who received a taste of varsity play a year ago. “This offseason I really worked my (rear) off.”

Depth will give the Lancers a chance to compete against the powers in the Licking County League-Buckeye Division. Painter hit six different receivers against NC, and Downs and junior Tristan Warthman with interceptions, senior Nathan Stepp a sack and junior James Waters a tackle for loss made big plays on defense.

“We need to just keep reading our keys and playing downhill,” Poling said. “The linebackers have to be knowing our coverages. If we study up on film and know what they are going to do out of what formations, I think we will be very successful.”

ksnyder@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8556

Twitter: @newarkurt

Aug. 26:Lakewood 20, Amanda 19

Sept. 2: Lakewood 23, Northridge 19

Sept. 9: Lakewood 41, Berne Union 14

Sept. 16: Lakewood 40, Utica 13

Sept. 24: New. Cath. 30, Lakewood 10

Sept. 30: @Licking Valley, 7 p.m.

Oct. 7: Watkins Memorial, 7 p.m.

Oct. 14: @Licking Heights, 7 p.m.

Oct. 21: Heath, 7 p.m.

Oct. 28: Granville, 7 p.m.