Two QBs equals one huge win

Pivots Lanham, King lead Calvert to come-from-behind victory over Raiders

Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009

 Calvert is using a two quarterback system this season. And if Week 1's 26-20 come-from-behind non-conference win over visiting Leonardtown on Friday was any indication, the experiment could be a rousing success.

Calvert's pivots are 6-foot-5, 191-pound junior Frank Lanham and 6-2, 205-pound senior Ronaz King and both made their marks in the season-opening victory over the Raiders.

King completed his only pass of the night –– a 36-yarder to Lanham –– and carried 15 times for 73 yards. Lanham completed six passes and scored two touchdowns on keepers.

"It's not the perfect system. It's not the ideal system, but it's what works for us," Calvert head coach Marc Watson said. "Both quarterbacks did an absolutely fantastic job tonight."

"Yeah, I like it," King admitted. "I [also] had to move to running back and I thought it would he hard but I like it. I felt good."

Lanham added: "I like it. It doesn't bother me, switching back and forth. Ronaz can do things and I can do things. It's whatever's best for the team."

Calvert (1-0) trailed 13-6 late in the first half, but it got the ball back when Leonardtown failed to convert a first down on fourth and two from its own 18. Zach Johnson's 13-yard burst up the middle set the stage and, four plays later, Lanham scored on a 1-yard sneak with nine seconds left in the half.

"It built momentum back up," Lanham said of the late score.

Calvert surged ahead on a pair of touchdowns –– Lanham's 2-yard run and Dai'Quan Garner's 45-yard scamper –– in the third quarter.

Leonardtown (0-1) drew to within six with less than six minutes left in regulation when running back Darren Reed took a snap, threw a short pass to quarterback William Pagliarulo, who was out wide right, and the pivot threw a 55-yard scoring strike to Nick Laurel, who had sneaked in behind the defense. 

After two offside calls on the attempted onsides kick, Leonardtown appeared to recover the ball on the third try, but it was ruled a Raider had touched the ball before it had traveled the mandatory 10 yards. Four plays later, Lanham dumped a pass over the middle to Kyle Gott for a 28-yard gain and a game-ending first down. 

"Kyle missed [an earlier pass]," Lanham said, "but came back and did what he does."

"They're very hungry to bring the program back. They want to be successful and they've worked hard and they deserve it, make no mistake about that," Watson said of his charges. "It's huge to start off with a win; you gain confidence and we'll use to momentum to move forward, and we'll continue to move forward. This lays the groundwork for our kids to have a successful season."

"This is very big," Garner said, referring to the Cavs' first win over Leonardtown in three years. "We wanted this one, [the] players and coaches as well, to show everybody that Calvert is coming back."

Raiders coach Anthony Pratley took sole responsibility for the loss.

"It was my fault, and I want you to print that," he said. "I made stupid calls at the wrong time. You live by the sword, you die by the sword and everybody knows I'm a gambler."

"Everyone on the team prepared for this game and it was a hell of an effort," said Reed, who had 20 carries for 83 yards. "Everyone worked real hard. We just need to work on blocks and little tiny things."

Calvert appeared to open the scoring on the Raiders' first offensive series when Garner, playing linebacker, scooped up a loose ball and returned it 83 yards for the score. But the score was negated on an infraction.

Ironically, Garner got a second chance to score when, on the Raiders' next possession, he again collected a fumble and romped 31 yards for the touchdown.

This time, it counted.  

"When they called [the first one] back, it was kind of heartbreaking, but I knew we'd come back and make something happen," Garner said. "[The second time] one of our defensive linemen hit the quarterback and I just saw the ball rolling on the ground and we always practice scoop and score."

"I'm glad he got it back because I think he deserved the first one," Watson said. "He played fantastic tonight offensively and defensively."

Leonardtown answered right back thanks to a 67-yard run by Martez Allen. 

The Raiders then took the lead when Reed shook off three tackles and rumbled 30 yards for the touchdown. 

Leonardtown committed four turnovers, three of which ended its first three offensive series. Calvert turned the ball over twice.

The Cavaliers converted 3 of 11 third-down opportunities and the Raiders went 0 for 6.

mreid@somdnews.com