RECAP: Short handed #CFC50 team loses in Ohio

The Lorne Park Spartans dropped their preseason opener 49-0 to the powerhouse Dover Tornadoes in Dover, Ohio last night.  In spite of the lopsided score, the Spartans played very well at times, but the Tornadoes were simply too much to handle.  As a point of comparison, the Spartans lost last year’s preseason opener 60-13 to these same Tornadoes and yet found themselves provincial champions after an undefeated season, so it might be a bit early for concern.

 The Lorne Park offense struggled to get going, and didn’t earn a first down until late in the second quarter.  Starting QB Alex Lavric played the opening half, and was 7 of 17 for 81 yards.

“You can’t judge Alex by his stats tonight”, said offensive coordinator Ben Grant following the game.  “His reads were terrific, and he was quick on his feet, but Dover’s defensive line was really disrupting our timing.”

Lavric was under fire all night as the aggressive Tornadoes defense kept him on the move, but he burned them near the end of the first half with a 41-yard run on a read option play.

RB Ajet Suljejmani led the Spartans in rushing with 85 yards on 11 carries.  On the last play of the game from the Dover 14, Suljejmani broke a few tackles on a draw up the middle, but was brought down just short of the endzone as the clock expired.

The Spartans defense, like the offense, also got off to a rough start surrendering 49 first half points.  They clamped down in the second half, however, shutting the Tornadoes out in the remaining two frames.

Spartans head coach and defensive coordinator, Scott Price was please with the way the defense came together as the game progressed.  “We got off to a slow start”, said Price, “but I think a lot of that comes from having so many young and inexperienced guys in there.  They got more comfortable as the game went on, and I think the score reflects that.”

The Spartans fielded a very young team for this game, with many senior players still tied up with summer commitments, but the experience those young players gained from this opportunity will be invaluable in a long and grueling season.

Lorne Park travels to Grimsby next Friday to take on the Blessed Trinity Thunder at 2:30pm in the second of their three preseason contests.

Source: Lorne Park Football