Subscribe
Community
Frank-ly speaking, Cavs rally over Stone
Senior QB is difference in win
Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by DARWIN WEIGEL
Calvert quarterback Frank Lanham leaps to score a two-point conversion despite the efforts of Stone's Kaddarius Campbell.
|
E-Mail This Article
The Cavaliers (2-7, 2-5 SMAC) overcame a rocky start to snap a six-game losing streak with a 24-20 victory on Friday night.
The 24 points Calvert put up on Stone was its third-highest of the season and just four fewer than its offensive output over the last four games.
"It feels great, especially going into Northern next week," Calvert head coach Marc Watson said of Friday's season finale against the in-county Patriots. "Our guys have confidence now, they have that winning feeling back. I told our guys that it's important to close this thing out right and that we build momentum for the offseason, that we build momentum for next year."
"We stuck together as a team and we played hard the whole game," Calvert senior running back Ray Hayes said.
Stone (0-9, 0-7), which led by as many as 14 points in the first quarter and only surrendered its lead two plays into the fourth quarter, remain winless on the season.
Calvert quarterback Frank Lanham was a thorn in the Cougars' side all night as he passed for 115 yards and ran for a game-high 145. On third or fourth down, Lanham was 4 of 5 for 57 yards passing and rushed for 98 of his 145 yards. These efforts resulted in four first downs and two touchdowns. He earned the game ball for his night's work.
Arguably his finest run of the night did not score any points or even result in a first down.
On third down and 15 from the Calvert 47-yard line midway through the opening quarter, the snap sailed over Lanham's head and he retreated back to the 27 to retrieve it. He wiggled away from a pair of would-be tacklers and knifed his way forward for a gain of 21, just one net yard.
"Frank ran like a stallion on us, no doubt," Stone head coach Brek Hall said. "We couldn't tackle him. I don't know why."
Stone's morale couldn't have been any higher when it struck early and often.
Sean Short returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a score and, when Calvert fumbled on its first offensive play, Cougars quarterback Ryan Deal hooked up with Rakeem Jones for a 30-yard touchdown and the Cougars led, 14-0, just 2 minutes 2 seconds into the game.
"We're already down, 14-0, and I'm thinking, ‘What happened?'" Watson said. "This is how we've been starting every game and is this going to happen to us again tonight?"
"We just needed to stick together as a team because that's been done to us several times," Hayes said, "and we just didn't want to let it happen again."
Lanham added, "We worked hard all week to try and get back on track and [it was a] momentum killer the first half. We were like, ‘What, we're going to roll over again?' We have two games left, let's do it for everybody."
It was Lanham who put the team on his shoulders as the Cavaliers started to rally.
Trailing, 20-12, with 49 seconds left in the half, Calvert took over at its own 39 and the Lanham show began. The senior completed the drive with a nine-yard touchdown as time elapsed in the period.
"I saw a seam and if I look for a seam and see a seam, then I'm going to run," Lanham said. "That's basically what coach Watson told me. It's easier to run than look for the pass when you have people in your face."
Perhaps the most important drive was Calvert's first of the second half when it drove 53 yards in 15 plays and chewed up 9:01 off the clock. The drive came to a crashing halt when Lanham fumbled at the Stone 19, but the lengthy possession changed the game's momentum.
"Although it didn't end in points it, one, gained confidence for our guys and they knew they could move the football and, two, it chews the clock and shortens the game," Watson said. "It was a big drive. It didn't end in points, but it was a successful drive."
Stone went four and out and Calvert took over at the Stone 33. This time, Lanham ran four straight times for 13 yards, threw a strike to Stefan Bowlan for 18 yards and wiggled in from three yards out for the eventual-winning touchdown.
"[The first drive] took a lot of time off the clock and I believe it drained their defense," Hayes said. "We didn't score, but the next drive we did and I believe it had a lot to do with draining their defense on that [first] drive."
Perhaps the only blemish on Lanham's evening came with 1:24 left in the ballgame and Calvert holding a tenuous four-point lead. On fourth and 7 from the Stone 25, the senior threw an ill-advised pass that Gabriel James picked off, though Lanham saved the potential ensuing touchdown with a tackle.
"Our heart dropped," Lanham said of the pick. "It was supposed to be a quick read. … I guess it wasn't. It was devastating I guess you could say."
Other games
Due to space restrictions, stories from other Friday night football games were not able to get into this edition. Go to www.somdnews.com for those stories. Those stories will appear in Friday's print edition if space allows.
Football scores
Friday, Oct. 29 McDonough 43, Leonardtown 0 (NC)
Westlake 47, Parkside 7
Chopticon 31, Patuxent 12
Huntingtown 21, Lackey 6
Northern 26, La Plata 6
North Point 37, Great Mills 0
Calvert 24, Stone 20
