This was not the start had in mind for football season, getting grounded down and sustaining a couple injuries along the way in the season opener at home.
And to make things even rosier, one of the mightiest quarterbacks around pays a visit from Tuscarawas Central Catholic this Saturday.
It would appear as though the 2012 campaign hasn’t been much fun so far, but Lancers coach is undaunted.
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“They’re hungry. It was easy to get a good practice out of them. We’re not looking for moral victories. They weren’t happy about losing a close one or just playing a tight game. They want to win,” Dodd said.
Going back to last Saturday, Beachwood’s Jordan Lane had two rushing touchdowns and Nate Hamilton had one of his own. The pair ran roughshod over the Lancers’ defense for a little more than 300 yards and generally away from the Lancers' stalwart defensive endin a 21-6 win at Weber Stadium.
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Gilmour went down, 14-0, at halftime, but drew within a score after Lancers quarterback had an 80-yard TD run followed by a missed extra point try. Botek finished the game with 97 rushing yards and 120 passing. Wright had four catches for 52 yards. P.J. Volpe had 10 tackles at safety.
The Lancers had a couple deep ventures into Bison territory late in the game that proved unsuccessful, including most crucially a fourth-and-2 pass at the 20-yard line that went awry with about four minutes left in the game. Lane later scored his second TD to seal the game.
“They expect to win. That’s our expectation for them when they’re out on the field,” Dodd said. “The kids played well. We’re proud of the effort, but we’ve got to get the ‘W. "
Dodd said Parker Berzin, Conrad Geis and Benoit Mapango all had various injuries throughout the game and several players cramped.
Now the Lancers will face Tuscarawas Central Catholic senior quarterback Michael Lawless at home this Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound senior passed for 318 yards and ran for 177 in a 51-29 win over Lancaster Fisher Catholic last weekend. He passed for three touchdowns, ran for two more and had a pair of two-point conversion passes.
So, mission No. 1 seems pretty clear.
“Stop the quarterback,” Dodd said. “He’s a good player.”