Cut Down In Felton
Lake Forest Edges St. Mark's In Defensive Struggle
For the second straight week, St. Mark's found themselves on the wrong end of the score when the clock
hit zero. And just as it had been the week before against Newark, the loss came in gut wrenching fashion. Only this time it was their opponent coming from behind and making them pay for a missed extra point. A scenario that the Spartans had come close to accomplishing against the Yellowjackets in week one. The defeat leaves the Spartans winless on the season, facing perhaps the division's most difficult schedule. A harsh reality for a team that has played well enough to be 2 - 0.
hit zero. And just as it had been the week before against Newark, the loss came in gut wrenching fashion. Only this time it was their opponent coming from behind and making them pay for a missed extra point. A scenario that the Spartans had come close to accomplishing against the Yellowjackets in week one. The defeat leaves the Spartans winless on the season, facing perhaps the division's most difficult schedule. A harsh reality for a team that has played well enough to be 2 - 0.
Lake Forest welcomed St. Mark's to Felton, Delaware for the Spartans first marquee matchup as a member of Division II. The game lived up to the hype, with big plays highlighting what turned out to be a
defensive slugfest. While St. Mark's looked to have a had a slightly better game on offense, it was 'The Colonel' who delivered for Lake Forest. No, I'm not talking crispy or original, though it would be neat if KFC delivered. One of the charms (or annoyances, depending on your point of view) of some of the small town teams downstate is their unusual public address announcers. Lake's announcer, while not as crazy as the guy who does Sussex Central games or amusing as the gentleman from Milford, liked to mispronounce St. Mark's players names while appointing nicknames to his own. One such player #7 Ben Moore, was dubbed 'The Colonel' by the questionably sober fellow in the press box. And while I don't know if that is really his nickname or something the announcer made up, I do know that I will never forget two plays he made that night.
defensive slugfest. While St. Mark's looked to have a had a slightly better game on offense, it was 'The Colonel' who delivered for Lake Forest. No, I'm not talking crispy or original, though it would be neat if KFC delivered. One of the charms (or annoyances, depending on your point of view) of some of the small town teams downstate is their unusual public address announcers. Lake's announcer, while not as crazy as the guy who does Sussex Central games or amusing as the gentleman from Milford, liked to mispronounce St. Mark's players names while appointing nicknames to his own. One such player #7 Ben Moore, was dubbed 'The Colonel' by the questionably sober fellow in the press box. And while I don't know if that is really his nickname or something the announcer made up, I do know that I will never forget two plays he made that night.
St. Mark's opened the game much as they had finished against Newark the week before. After winning the coin toss and deferring, the defense held Lake Forest to a short series, forcing them to punt. St. Mark's offense took over and drove the ball with authority, marching down the field and opening the scoring with a #28 Dominic Catalano 6 yard run. The drive was highlighted by a tough 4th down conversion run by #22 Peyton Schultz and a nice run by #6 Billy Sullivan on a quarterback keeper. Chris Ludman's extra point kick was ruled wide, and with the offense's proficiency, at the time seemed inconsequential. The Defense would hold Lake to another 3 and out, but the team would suffer a blow when two way starter and captain, lineman P.J. Groves, was lost for the game with an injury.
#28 Dominic Catalano scored on St. Mark's opening drive.
St. Mark's, despite the loss, still seemed to have the edge in the trenches, on both sides of the ball in the early going. Lake Forest would take advantage of his absence as the game wore on. The teams would trade short series on offense to end the 1st quarter, with St. Mark's missing out on an opportunity, getting the ball at midfield and moving to Lake's 40 yard line before being stopped. Lake Forest's offense would open the 2nd quarter, struggling as it had in the 1st. After a short series, St. Mark's offense took over around their own 30, and started to drive. They moved to the 48 yard line where #6 Billy Sullivan connected with #1 Jamai Rice on a short screen pass, which Jamai turned into a 52 yard touchdown.
Chris Ludman's kick was good and put St.Mark's up 13 - 0 with 4:40 left in the half.
Chris Ludman's kick was good and put St.Mark's up 13 - 0 with 4:40 left in the half.
#1 Jamai Rice turns a short pass into a big play for the Spartans.
At that point it briefly looked as though St. Mark's might be on their way to an unexpectedly easy victory.
With one galloping jaunt down the sideline "The Colonel' erased that thought. #7 Ben Moore's 81 yard return on the ensuing kickoff breathed life into the Lake Forest team and it's fans. Once again the teams would trade short series with the half ending on a #22 Peyton Schultz interception. While far from dominating, St. Mark's had carried play through the first half, but would find themselves heading to the locker room with a precarious 13 - 7 lead.
With one galloping jaunt down the sideline "The Colonel' erased that thought. #7 Ben Moore's 81 yard return on the ensuing kickoff breathed life into the Lake Forest team and it's fans. Once again the teams would trade short series with the half ending on a #22 Peyton Schultz interception. While far from dominating, St. Mark's had carried play through the first half, but would find themselves heading to the locker room with a precarious 13 - 7 lead.
#22 Peyton Schultz intercepts a Lake pass to end the half.
The second half opened much the way the first had ended, with both teams taking a turn on offense without success. On their second offensive possession of the quarter, St. Mark's looked to be in scoring position after #2 Austin Colmery returned a punt to the Lake Forest 46. But the drive bogged down afer reaching the 30 yard line. St. Mark's did pin Lake inside their 5 on the ensuing punt, however it failed to pay dividends. After gaining a first down, Lake Forest would get off a nice punt of their own, that would eventually pay off for them. Starting from their own 25, St. Mark's failed to move the ball, giving it back to Lake with their second best field position of the game. The 'southern' Spartans would mount their only sustained drive of the evening, moving 19 yards on a couple of plays before 'The Colonel' delivered again. #7 Ben Moore broke through the line on a counter play for a 37 yard touchdown, that with the extra point kick, gave Lake Forest it's first lead of the game.
Trailing 14 - 13 with 9:26 left to play, St. Mark's looked poised to strike back. After a nice return on the kickoff found them at midfield, they moved into Lake Forest territory only to see the drive end with an interception at the 34. It would end up being their only serious threat at taking back the lead. Their defense would do their part, twice holding Lake to 3 and out series. However the 'southern' Spartans would match their 'northern' counterparts, twice shutting down St. Mark's drives before they could
even start. In what had seemed unlikley earlier in the evening, the Lake Forest offense ended the game in the victory formation as the St. Mark's defense, which had played a very good game, watched in frustration. Lake Forest (1 - 1) will host Division I Dover next Friday night, while St. Mark's (0 - 2) hosts Brandywine.
even start. In what had seemed unlikley earlier in the evening, the Lake Forest offense ended the game in the victory formation as the St. Mark's defense, which had played a very good game, watched in frustration. Lake Forest (1 - 1) will host Division I Dover next Friday night, while St. Mark's (0 - 2) hosts Brandywine.
Multimedia: Photo Gallery
Box Score: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th - Final
St. Mark's 6 7 0 0 - 13
Lake Forest 0 7 0 7 - 14
Scoring Summary:
SM - Catalano 6 yd run (kick failed)
SM - Rice 52 yd pass from Sullivan (Ludman kick)
LF - Moore 81 yd kickoff return (Aguilar kick)
LF - Moore 37 yd run (Aguilar kick)
Stats:
Link
Additional Game Notes: n/a
Box Score: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th - Final
St. Mark's 6 7 0 0 - 13
Lake Forest 0 7 0 7 - 14
Scoring Summary:
SM - Catalano 6 yd run (kick failed)
SM - Rice 52 yd pass from Sullivan (Ludman kick)
LF - Moore 81 yd kickoff return (Aguilar kick)
LF - Moore 37 yd run (Aguilar kick)
Stats:
Link
Additional Game Notes: n/a