Published: September 06, 2008 07:00 pm      

H.S. FOOTBALL: Lancaster routs Lockport, 50-12

LOCKPORT — The luminous clouds hanging over Max D. Lederer Field were more forgiving than the storm unleashed by the Lancaster Redskins.

Racking up more than 300 yards of total offense, the Redskins’ no huddle, spread offense was no match for the Lions in Saturday afternoon’s Section Class AA non-divisional football matchup.

Elusive Lancaster senior quarterback Frank Gregori dipsy-doodled his way to just 20 yards on nine carries, but countered that with monstrous numbers passing — 239 yards (14-of-15), including three TD strikes to junior wide receiver Andrew Mrozek (6 catches, 224 yards, 3 TDs).

“It started out bad and it got worse. Our offense turned the ball over and our defense let people run behind us,” said Lions head coach Greg Bronson.

“We have to go back to the drawing board and take a good look at ourselves and decide what type of season we want to have.”

Things couldn’t have started any worse for the Lions and a modest, partisan crowd on hand.

After intercepting LHS senior quarterback Justin Guyton (3-for-9, 69 yards, TD), the Redskins wasted no time marching 57 yards in just four plays, capped by Gregori’s 23-yard scoring strike to the fleet-footed Mrozek.

Two plays into the Lions’ next drive, the Redskins recovered a fumble and promptly went 36 yards in four play with Gregori sneaking in from two yards out.

Lockport’s offense went three-and-out and the Redskins relentless offense went back to work, marching 81 yards in six plays, culminating with Gregori’s second TD pass to Mrozek, this one a 69 yard bomb. Keith Stoerr, who finished with six Lancaster PATs, split the uprights the visitors led 21-0 before the hotdogs were done.

Things went bad to worse after that for the blue and gold. Matt Speyer intercepted a Guyton pass at midfield and ran it back deep into Lockport territory. Nine plays later and Lancaster senior running back Thomas Nolder sprinted in nine yards out to make it 28-0.

The low point came on the Lions’ next possession. Junior Jorgen Refermat intercepted a Guyton pass and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown to give the visitors a 35-0 lead.

The Lions played the Redskins almost even the rest of the way, beginning with a touchdown just before halftime to make the score 35-6. Guyton fired a 55-yard scoring pass to senior halfback Brynell Middleton. The extra point attempt was blocked.

Lockport’s shallow High Water Mark came early in the third quarter when junior tailback David Fluellen (17 rushes, 53 yards) returned a Lancaster punt 85 yards for a score. The two-point run failed, but the lead was cut to 35-12 mid-way through the third quarter, keeping slim comeback hopes alive.

But the Redskins added two more touchdowns and a safety to boot in a game that featured a wide variety of touchdown types — passing and rushing TDs, a safety, an interception and a punt return.

“We want to run more plays and keep things up-tempo,” Jankiewicz said, explaining his team’s new offense. “We feel the more plays we run, the more tired the defense gets and we can eventually tire them out.”

The Lions have a week to regroup before their Class AA North Division opener at 2 p.m. Saturday at 0-1 Niagara-Wheatfield, 20-7 losers to Jamestown yesterday. The Redskins will tackle Frontier.