Shutting out the competition

Lackey football downs Calvert for second straight shutout

Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2010

Two things have been common for the Lackey football team this fall: winning and shutouts.

The Chargers racked up their third win of the season, second in a row, at Calvert on Friday night with a 34-0 blanking as 20 Cavaliers seniors played for the final time at home.

All three Lackey victories this season have been via the shutout and the Chargers have not allowed a point in more than nine quarters.

Lackey head coach Doug Lamb said he was happy with junior defensive lineman Razonte Dunn's performance as well as his growth throughout the season.

"Razonte has really come a long way," Lamb said. "He's a guy that we're really proud of. [Wide receiver] Romell Haley is another guy that has come along. Mark McDowell has had a good season for us, too.

"D-line played well tonight and secondary did good, didn't allow a lot of big plays," Dunn said. "We did what we've practiced. They [Huntingtown] are a good team. We need to come out physical and make good plays. We're a physical team, too, and we come ready to play. Take no prisoners."

The Chargers had 332 rushing yards to enable them to put the win in the book. The three seniors leading the way were quarterback Charles Holley (6 carries, 84 yards), and running backs Francis Plater (7-83) and Eugene Burns (10-78).

Lamb said he was committed to the running game and doesn't plan on changing a thing going into a 7 p.m. home matchup Friday against Huntingtown.

"Well, this is one of those games where we really didn't need to throw," Lamb said. "I think our passing game will be fine going into Huntingtown. If I don't have to throw the ball, I'm not going to. They loaded up the box. There were a lot of times that we could have [passed], but we were committed to the run.

"It's definitely a big challenge for us [the last two games], but one we're really excited about. Everybody's healthy and ready to go."

Plater put the visitors on the scoreboard with his 45-yard carry in the first quarter. Holley connected with junior running back Brandon Bostick for a 19-yard touchdown pass, putting Lackey up, 14-0, with a two-point conversion run from Plater.

On the next drive, Calvert had a chance to score, going all the way to the 1-yard line, but Lackey's defense held Lanham from carrying the ball across the line on fourth down and goal.

"We told our players all week that they are a very good team," Calvert head coach Marc Watson said, "much better than their record indicated, and they proved it. We didn't take advantage of the opportunities that were presented to us. The goal line stand was a huge turning point in the game. We also failed to capitalize on wonderful field position on three other occasions."

In the second quarter, Burns scored on an 11-yard run after trotting downfield for more than 70 yards on the drive. On the final carry, Calvert senior defensive back D'Andre Holland and senior defensive tackle Jordan Bisser couldn't bring Burns down. The visitors jumped ahead, 20-0, before parting for the half.

Burns said hard work in practice is what attributed the win for the Chargers.

 "We've been doubted a lot," Burns said. "Nobody has us beating good teams, and then to come out here today … we just wanted to focus on working hard in practice because that's where it starts — in practice. We'll go back to practice this week and kick up the intensity [for Huntingtown]. We've been playing as a team and that's something we didn't do in the beginning of the season."

Senior wide receiver Mark McDowell and junior running back Devon Walker completed the scoring for the Chargers with Plater laying the ground work.

Holley started the first drive with an eight-yard keeper and Plater took the ball another 20 yards up the field. Bostick then cleared the way with a block for Plater to go another 10 yards. The Chargers overcame some penalties and McDowell put his cleats to work with a 19-yard gain and a first down. He followed up with a six-yard touchdown run. The Chargers faked the extra point attempt and Demontez Jones carried the ball into the end zone, putting the visitors up, 28-0.

Walker carried the ball in for a nine-yard touchdown run to finish off the Cavaliers.

Although Calvert didn't get on the board, quarterback Frank Lanham completed 2 of 10 passes for 41 yards and senior Ryan Cathro completed 5 of 14 passes for 45 yards.

tshowalter@somdnews.com

Lackey 34, Calvert 0

Lackey 14 6 8 6

Calvert 0 0 0 0

First quarter

L — Plater 45 run (kick failed), 3:12

L — Bostick 19 pass from Holley (Plater run), 6:41

Second quarter

L — Burns 11 run (run failed), 10:08

Third quarter

L— McDowell 6 run (Gray run), 9:10

Fourth quarter

L— Walker 9 run (kick failed), 9:19

Team stats

L (14 first downs, 47-332 rushing, 42 passing, 4-3 fumbles, 10-72 penalties)

C (5 first downs, 29-35 rushing, 86 passing, 1-1 fumbles, 5-40 penalties)

Top individual performers

Rushing — L: Plater 7-83, Holley 6-84, Burns 10-78; C: Hayes 13-27, Lanham 6-26

Passing — L: Holley 3-5-0 42; C: Lanham 2-10-1 41, Cathro 5-14-0 45

Receiving — L: Bostick 1-19, Fadahunsi 1-7; C: Morsell 2-36