Last year, LeRoy-Ostrander football suddenly announced itself as a contender in the South-East with a 30-19 win over perennially power GM. The Cardinals went on to the District title. The Super Larks went on to the Section title. In a key rivalry battle in week three, the teams slugged it out. Through three quarters, the only touchdown came as a result of a blocked Cardinal punt recovered in the end zone by Lark senior Luke Speer. It gave GM a 7-0 first quarter lead. Only one team even threatened to score offensively through one half. GM blocked a second punt in the second quarter, and had goal-to-goal, but the Cardinal defense held. At intermission, GM led 7-0. L-O’s big shot came to start the second half (14-play, 71-yard drive). The Cardinals had a first and 10 at the GM 10. An incomplete pass on 4th and 9 ended things. Entering the fourth, GM still led 7-0. Enter Lark rugged senior runner Daniel Smith. He had 14 of GM’s 19 carries and one of their two second half receptions. The 6’0” 174-pounder had every run on the game’s pivotal drive. GM went 45 yards in seven plays. Smith’s one-yard TD run with 7:31 left put Gary Sloan’s group up 14-0. A series later, Smith intercepted Cardinal QB Chase Johnson with 4:47 left. It was the dagger. Team Lark got revenge for last year’s defeat, 14-0. Smith (18-83 yards, TD rushing, 1-12 receiving) did all but seven yards of his damage after halftime. The Lark defense continued its stout play. The first string is yet to be scored on, as GM has pitched two shut-outs and given up just six points (to SG in the 4th quarter of a 40-0 game) in three games. They kept L-O joy-stick QB Chase Johnson at bay (4-15, 67 yards, 2 INTs passing, 17-48 rushing). Tristan Lewison caught two passes for 34 yards. L-O as a team was held 146 yards total offense. L-O’s defense was stout too, giving up just 116 yards. Peyton Roe and Gavin Sweeney each recorded two sacks. Sweeney, a 6’4” junior, was credited with 16 tackles. GM improved to 3-0. L-O fell to 1-2.
Photo: GM’s Daniel Smith (partially blocked) raises his hands after scoring the only offensive TD in the Larks 14-0 win over LeRoy-Ostrander. Smith was a workhorse in the second half, accounting for a majority of GM’s offensive touches.
Photo by Paul Trende
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