2nd
half rally lifts Jr. Knights past Livonia 20-12
Recap by Barney Mase
The
mark of a good team is how well it responds after a disappointing
loss. For the first half, LR`s defense struggled with the
Livonia Jr. Bulldogs' Wing-T offense, allowing 166 yards
rushing and 2 TDs, to trail at intermission 12-6. The JV
Knights responded with great heart and determination by
taking control early in the second half, scoring on their
first 2 drives enroute to a 20-12 win.
To start the game Livonia needed all but 2 plays to score
on a 59-yd run for a quick 6-0 lead.
Taking a different approach, LR methodically moved the ball
down the field behind their 1-2 punch of HB Tyler Scofield
and FB Jon Casper. Running the ball 13 straight plays, LR
chewed up 6:36 off the clock and traveled 63 yards with
Casper gaining the last yard for the TD to tie the score
at 6. The BIG play of the drive came on a 4th-and-2 at the
Livonia 12 as Scofield picked up 6 yards to keep the scoring
drive alive.
Employing a bend but don't break approach, LR's defense
finally gets off the field, forcing an incomplete pass on
4th down at their 16. Picking up only one 1st down, LR punts
the ball away and after a fine return Livonia starts at
the LR 49.
Moving the ball in 11 plays, Livonia regains the lead 12-6
after a 5-yard TD run.
Receiving the ball beginning the 2nd half, LR starts ripping
off gains, 5+ yards a pop, driving the ball to the Livonia
16. Successive penalties push the Jr. Knights back to a
1st-and-24. Mark Kelso then displays some Doug Flutie magic,
scrambling out of the pocket for 13 yards on 2nd down and
then completing a pass to Rick Henry to earn a 1st-and-goal
at the Bulldogs' 2. Scofield crossed the goal line as LR
knotted the game at 12.
LR`s defense bends just a bit on the Bulldogs' drive, allowing
2 first downs, but on 4th-and-3 Brandon Monteleone`s pass
breakup gives the Knights the ball at their own 40 nearing
the end of the 3rd quarter.
Tyler Scofield gains 8 and 7 yards and then on the first
play of the 4th quarter he rambles 43 yards down to the
Livonia 2. An apparent TD is called back on the next play
due to holding, but 2 plays later Jon Casper runs it in
from the 10 for the TD. Scofield runs for the 2-point PAT
as LR grabs its first lead 20-12.
Jordan Boyd`s stop of the Bulldog runner in the backfield
on 3rd down forces the first punt of the game for Livonia.
LR marches down the field once again only to see the penalty
bug strike once more. On 4th down at the Bulldogs' 19, a
tipped pass is intercepted, ending the drive.
Reaching the LR 47, Mark Kelso snuffs out any Livonia hope
of a comeback by intercepting the football and preserving
the win.
After allowing 166 yards of offense in the 1st half, LR
tightened its defense and allowed 77 yards after halftime.
Scofield had his best rushing game of the year, gaining
177 yards on 31 carries, scoring one TD.
The victory ends a very successful '07 campaign at 6-2-1.
I would like to thank the coaching staff of Jeff Condidorio,
Jon Wilson, Greg "Porp" Rogers, and Pete Greene
for the fine coaching this year.
Congratulations also to the players for picking up 6 win
this season. This was a very young squad as 29 of the 39
on the roster were freshmen. A special thanks to the fans
for coming out and supporting these fine young men all year
long.
