Lakeland looks ready for playoffs
Published: November 7, 2009
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share thisCHAPMAN LAKE - The Lakeland Chiefs looked like a team ready for the playoffs.
Senior Brett Kuwik led all rushers with 155 yards, and six different Chiefs had rushing touchdowns as Lakeland defeated Montrose, 54-12, on Friday night at Lakeland High School.
"We jumped on them early," Lakeland coach Jeff Wasilchak said. "We're trying to get ready for playoffs, so we can't look past anybody. So we said, 'Let's go out there and get the job done. Let's do what we got to do.'
"And the kids came out and did what they had to do, and everybody performed well."
The Lakeland offense ran 27 plays in the game and managed 15 first downs, but never turned the ball over and scored on every possession. Kuwik led the way for the Chiefs, breaking out for four big plays, including a 42-yard touchdown and a 50-yard score.
"It was all heart," Kuwik said. "This was probably my last chance to play on this field, so I figured I'd go out with a bang."
Al Tuzze got the ball rolling for the Chiefs in the first quarter with a 1-yard rush. Kuwik extended the lead on the second play of the next Lakeland possession. Kuwik ran the ball 50 yards to the end zone to extend the lead. The Chiefs were able to score through the air as well, as quarterback Ryan Kiehart connected with Geoff Demming for a 4-yard score to open the second quarter.
"It seems kind of late in the season, but we're starting to come together and peak," Kuwik said. "We're trying to go into the playoffs peaking, everyone doing their job."
Montrose was able to move the ball, but could not find a rhythm until the second half. The Meteors put together a long scoring drive to end the third quarter. Dalton Smith and Nathan Clarke did most of the heavy lifting for Montrose on the drive, and Smith punched it in with 27.6 seconds left in the third to put the Meteors on the board. Smith would score again in the fourth for Montrose's only other score.
"We did what we felt we could do for the most part of the year," Montrose coach Jack Keihl said. "We're young, lots of young kids, lots of sophomores playing tonight, and I thought they came together. I thought the last few weeks we really played to the end and pushed ourselves and we thought we've improved."
Overall, the Chiefs look ready for the playoffs.
"We need to just keep getting better every week," Wasilchak said.
"Obviously, we've gotten better during the season than where we started, but we need to keep getting better. You can't stagnate."
3 posted comments
young warriors must not do same...
must take GAR skin first
then hunt buck'
soon big battle in valley, only strong survive'