In good fortune

Lackey senior helps in nine of his team’s 23 points in victory over McDonough

Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008

However, running seemingly out of nowhere, Lackey’s Gary Fortune captured the free ball, and proceeded to run 62 yards down the Lackey sideline to score and put the Chargers up 14-0, as Lackey went on to victory, 23-8.

‘‘I just saw the ball sitting there, and I was just thinking I want to go,” Fortune said. ‘‘So, I took it and ran down the sidelines.”

‘‘We got lucky when Fortune picked up that punt,” Lackey head coach Douglas Lamb said. ‘‘It is something we never coach them to do, and I told him nine times out of 10 that is not going to be a good play. We were fortunate to catch a break there.”

Fortune almost scored an additional touchdown on the night as he intercepted a Byron Campbell pass near midfield in the third quarter and returned it to the 1-yard line, only to be stripped from behind as McDonough recovered the ball back.

However, on the first play of the new possession, Lackey’s Ricardo Haley tackled Derrick Joseph in the end zone for a safety to increase the lead to 23-0. Fortune helped account for nine of Lackey’s 23 points on the night.

‘‘I was running,” Fortune explained, ‘‘and I saw the quarterback coming. I tried to cut in behind him, and he just had long arms, and got the ball.”

The first score of the game for Lackey (4-1, 3-0 SMAC) came on its opening drive as running back Malcolm Willis punched it in from three yards out to cap an eight-play drive. The second quarter yielded no offensive touchdowns as both defenses were stingy with yards. The only score of the quarter came with Fortune’s punt return.

‘‘I thought McDonough played a heck of a football game, they are a really good team,” Lamb said. ‘‘They are physical and tough defensively. We had a hard time moving the ball. Tip of the hat to them. We were just fortunate to get a few breaks. That was the difference in the game.”

McDonough first-year head coach Luke Ethington was coaching against Lackey for the first time since leaving the team after last season. Ethington was on the Lackey staff as a wide receivers and linebackers coach.

‘‘Emotions were going to be high,” Ethington said. ‘‘Everyone knows I came from Lackey last year, and I have a profound respect for the school and the program. I told the kids this wasn’t about me, it was about them. ... It is hard to say what happened tonight. I told them it is a lot of accountability that has to go around tonight, and I have to take my dose too.

‘‘We knew this would be a tough stretch in our season when you go Westlake [two weeks ago], Friendly [last week], and Lackey.”

McDonough (1-4, 1-2) was able to score its lone touchdown on a 35-yard connection from Campbell –– receiving his first substantial amount of playing time –– and wide receiver Javarrus King.

‘‘I think we did really well tonight,” Campbell said. ‘‘Our line really came through, but us skill-position players have to step it up, and that is part my fault as well.”

Campbell finished the game 15 of 29 passing for 104 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.

Concerning the extra amount of playing time, Campbell added with a smile: ‘‘It feels really good.”

Lackey’s additional offensive touchdown came when quarterback Amir Smith hooked up with Antwan Smith on a 38-yard touchdown pitch and catch in the third quarter to push the lead to 21-0. However, the focus remains on the Lackey defense heading into the second half of the season.

‘‘Second half of the season we have to come out [clicking] on all cylinders,” Willis said. ‘‘We have to kick it up a notch on the offense, and the defense just has to keep playing really well.”