MAX Game of the Week Recap: LaVille gets defensive in 17-7 win over Glenn
LAKEVILLE – Spearheaded by arguably its best defensive performance of the season, LaVille’s Lancers were able to notch a 17-7 victory over visiting John Glenn last Friday night in an Indiana Northern State Conference showdown.
In so doing, Laville made it seven straight years with wins over the Falcons.
The win improved the Lancers’ record to 3-4 overall, 2-2 in the conference, while Glenn lost its fourth game in a row to fall to 1-5 on the season, including 0-4 in league play.
Defense was the name of the game in this one, a game that was MAX 98.3 FM’s Game of the Week.
LaVille’s defense came up big, especially early on when the Falcons were in the red zone twice in the first quarter, but came away with nothing as they were stopped failing to convert both drives on fourth down.
Glenn’s third drive of the game resulted in an interception, which the Lancers capitalized on.
LaVille took over possession at midfield after an illegal block negated a long return on the interception, which would’ve given it the ball inside the Glenn 10.
Regardless, the Lancers drove the 50 yards in less than two minutes and scored on senior running back Cody Allen’s 1-yard plunge that made it 7-0.
The big play on the drive was a 35-yard pass play that converted a third-and-11 situation. Lancer senior quarterback Collin Czarnecki threw a beautiful pass to senior receiver Xavian LaFavre, who made a great catch. LaFavrre looked as though he got into the end zone, but the official marked his knee down at the 1.
On the ensuing kickoff, Glenn senior receiver Brody King returned it 85 yards for a touchdown. He started up the middle then cut to his left and outraced everyone to paydirt.
The score was tied at seven with 11 seconds left in the opening frame.
It would stay that way until Czarnecki drilled a 41-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter to give his team a 10-7 halftime advantage.
On their first possession of the second half, the Falcons put together an impressive seven-plus minute drive marching to the host’s 28-yard line.
However, once again LaVille’s D stiffened and kept Glenn off the scoreboard as the Falcons turned the ball over on downs.
The game remained a three-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter.
That’s when LaVille iced it.
In the shadow of their end zone, the Falcons elected to punt the ball on third-and-22 from the 1 rather than run another offensive play.
The punt was a short one as the Lancers took possession at Glenn’s 34.
Two plays later Allen burst 32 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown and the PAT made it 17-7 with 8:44 remaining. Allen’s offensive line executed brilliantly on the great play call.
When the Falcons got the ball back, they suffered their fourth turnover on downs and LaVille ran out the remaining 3:29.
There were many standout performances by the Lancers.
Lafave was very physical throughout. He had 10 tackles, including seven solo, four tackles for loss and a quarterback sack.
Junior linebacker Braedyn Foster paced LaVille with 17 tackles, including an eye-popping 12 solo stops to go along with his one sack.
Senior linebacker Jonathan Neese and junior linebacker Cole Stafford also recorded double-digit tackles with 16 and 11, respectively.
Foster, Neese, Lafave and Stafford led a defensive effort that didn’t allow the Falcon offense to score as LaVille’s D registered eight tackles for loss, four sacks and an interception.
Allen rushed for 93 yards on 16 carries and the two touchdowns.
In addition to his 41-yard field goal, Czarnecki booted a 51-yard punt, which helped flip the field.
Glenn senior running back/linebacker Eli Beeney was Glenn’s leading ball carrier with four rushes for 49 yards.
The Falcon passing game only completed four passes for 21 yards.
Glenn has suffered through an injury-riddled season and it only got worse against LaVille.
With just under six minutes to play in the first half, Falcon junior running back Blake Wright suffered a broken leg, which halted play for quite some time. Wright was taken to a local hospital and will be lost for the season.
Next up for the Falcons is a trip to 5-2 Tippecanoe Valley tonight. LaVille, on the other hand, will entertain 4-3 Jimtown this evening.
MAX GLENN PLAYER OF THE GAME: Linebacker/fullback Eli Beeney rushed four times for 49 yards and was part of a defense that had five tackles for loss, including three quarterback sacks.
MAX LAVILLE PLAYER OF THE GAME: The Lancer defense shut out Glenn’s offense and recorded eight tackles for loss, four sacks and an interception.
One of MAX 98.3 FM WYMR’s most loyal sponsors is Hoosier Racing Tire. Hoosier Racing Tire is the largest race tire manufacturer in the world and all of its tires are made in the United States. Hoosier Racing Tire has been in business since 1957 and is located in Lakeville. Give their website a look at http://hoosierracingtire.com
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