Lorne Park Spartans play well to Michigan powerhouse

Source: Lorne Park Spartans Football

On Friday, at Wayne State University, the De La Salle Pilots gave the Lorne Park Spartans a glimpse as to why they’re one of the best teams in Michigan.  De La Salle won 42-6, but it wasn’t about the score for either team.  With a roster full of NCAA potential, led by RB / DB Allen Stritzinger who has already turned down 12 scholarship offers to play for the Syracuse Orange next season, the Pilots probably could have won 100-0 if they felt so inclined.  But this game meant two very different things for both teams.  For the Pilots, it was the second game of their regular season, and was an opportunity to improve their ranking.  For the Spartans it was the first of three exhibition games, and an opportunity to shake off the rust, try some new things, and evaluate their talent.

Stritzinger notched two first quarter touchdowns as the Pilots took a 21-0 lead into the second quarter.  By halftime, the lead was 28-0, and the Spartans offense had spent more time going backwards than forwards.

In the second half, from the Pilots 41, Spartans QB Alex Lavric connected with WR James Flaherty who made a sensational diving catch in the endzone, but the play was called back, and the Spartans were left looking for their first score. Lorne Park finally got on the board a few minutes later when Lavric hit WR Ryan Davies in the corner of the endzone for the touchdown.

A 42-6 score looks bad on paper, but Spartans head coach Scott Price was very encouraged by what he saw.  “We certainly made some mistakes”, said Price, “but considering the strength of our opponent, and the fact that this was our first preseason game, we have nothing to hang our heads about.”

The Pilots are ranked higher nationally than Ohio’s Dover Tornadoes were in 2013 when they crushed the Spartans 60-13, and in 2014 when they rolled over Lorne Park 49-0.  Both of those Spartans teams went on to win ROPSSAA and OFSAA, so as a point of comparison, that bodes well for this year’s team.

The Spartans play their next preseason game on Thursday night at 7:00pm against the St. Paul Patriots in Niagara Falls.  With Labour Day on Monday, Lorne Park will only have two practices to re-Canadianize their game.  Their preseason wraps up the following Friday with a road game against the Richview Saints in Toronto.