On Friday, the Spartans opened the regular season with a convincing 37-0 road win over the St. Joan of Arc Angels. Despite racking up 10 first half penalties, Lorne Park jumped out to a 27-0 lead at half, and was able to put it in cruise control the rest of the way.
“The penalties in the first half were unacceptable”, said Spartans head coach Scott Price. “They didn’t come from guys being out of position, or getting beat, they simply reflected a lack of discipline. At half time I was very clear with the team about my expectations going forward. If you’re not going to play disciplined Lorne Park football, then you’re not going to play.” The Spartans were flagged only once in the second half, and that was for a hold that protected the QB on a delayed blitz.
On the first drive of the game, Lorne Park QB Alex Lavric connected with four different receivers, and RB Omar Naguib mixed in a long run, but the drive was stalled by penalties, and the Spartans had to settle for a Samer Hamade field goal.
The Angels first drive of the game was kept alive by a Lorne Park penalty for roughing the passer. Then St. Joan of Arc appeared to take the lead when QB Joe Hlady hit WR Jonny Keizer on a 70 yard bomb, but Keizer was flagged for being offside, and that was the last time the Angels would come close to the endzone.
The second Spartans drive was very similar to the first with Lavric hitting three different receivers, and Naguib taking a long run up the middle. Naguib would eventually pound it in from a yard out to put the Spartans up 10-0 midway through the first quarter.
Early in the second, the Spartans defense got on the board when CB Samer Hamade jumped an out route and took it 64 yards to the house.
Right before the end of the half, Lavric and WR Evan Simmons connected on what would be the play of the game. Eluding pressure, Lavric flicked the ball sidearm deep downfield where Simmons barely caught up with it, catching the back of the ball with the tips of his fingers.
“Alex [Lavric] did a nice job of spreading the ball around again today”, said Spartans offensive coordinator Ben Grant. “Everyone in Peel knows that Devin [Condlln] is one of the best receivers in the province, so he faces double coverage on every play. Last year, Alex might have tried to force it, but we’ve got such a nice complement of receivers this year that if you double Devin, Alex will burn you somewhere else.”
Condlln still managed to lead the Spartans in targets and receptions, hauling in four catches for 84 yards. Lavric finished the day 12 of 22 for 238 yards and two touchdowns.
The Lorne Park defense was all over the stat sheet today too. LB Josh Dias had a interception to go along with Hamade’s pick-six, and the defensive line was dominant, logging five sacks.
“This is a good, young Joan of Arc team”, said Price after the game. “They’ve got a lot of grade 11 talent, and a few really strong senior leaders. No one is going to want to play them in the second half of this season.”
The Spartans travel to St. Francis Xavier on Friday to take on the Tigers at 2:15pm. The Tigers, who are coming off an undefeated Tier 2 Championship-winning season had a first week bye.
Source: Lorne Park Spartans
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