by CANTON,OH – In a battle for the Division II State Championship it was The La Salle Lancers running away with a 34-17 victory over Massillon. The Massillon Tigers were unable to stop the run or hold onto the ball and it cost them big tonight as The Lancers made it look easy at times.
The Lancers shut out the high-powered Tiger attack in the second half and made what appeared to be a close game, a blowout.
The Lancers were the definition of team tonight as they excelled in all three phases of the game. Ball control scoring on offense. Creating turnovers and making adjustments on defense and a tremendous field goal kicker to ice it late!
The Lancers used a form of the Wildcat offense with their two terrific rushers GiBran Payne & Cam Porter along with their extremely mobile quarterback Zach Branam to run at will all game long.
Porter finished with 57 yards and 3 touchdowns on 28 carries. His backfield mate Payne tallied 133 yards on 15 carries with a score. Branam finished with 166 yards on 22 yards, along with several key big plays to keep drives alive.
Their defense held the Tigers high profile scoring attack to only 10 first downs, and turned them over 3 times on fumbles. The victory could have been even bigger for the Lancers had it not been for six crucial penalties costing them 61 yards.
The biggest difference was the running game, one team had one, while the other struggled all night. The Lancers finished with a combined 337 yards on the ground while their defense held the Tigers to just 82.
The lone bright spot from Massillon was their ability to throw the deep ball. It kept them in the game and appeared for a small moment, that it may be enough to regain them the lead in the third quarter.
Longwell went 12 of 23 for 245 yards. His strong arm looked impressive at times, but he did miss several wide-open receivers a few times as well. All in all, Longwell had an outstanding season despite tonight’s outcome.
His biggest and best target tonight was Andrew Wilson Lamp who got open several times. Lamp went off for 128 yards and a touchdown. Also, it was Jayden Ballard having a good night with 88 yards on 7 catches.
The Lancers would go three and out on their opening drive giving the ball to a Tiger team ready to roar. Longwell hit a 59-yard bomb to Andrew Wilson-Lamp on their second play from scrimmage to set up a first and goal from the nine.
They would attempt two straight runs and then a post route to Ballard, but they couldn’t get closer and the Tigers had to settle for a field goal. It was Alex Hauer putting it through from 23 yards out to give the Tigers a 3-0 early lead with 8:39 to go in the first.
It didn’t take the Lancers long to respond as they looked furious on their following drive. Running the ball down the field with no problems from running back Cam Porter and quarterback Zach Branam. Runs of 20 and 30 plus put them inside the 8 for first and goal.
Porter is lightening quick and this Northwestern commit may be playing on Sundays. His running mate GiBrian Payne is every bit as deadly. He proved this on his 5-yard touchdown score. He crossed the goal line as he fumbled, but after further review, it was called a touchdown. Just like that, it was 7-3.
The Tigers started their first drive of the second quarter at their own 2-yard line and had Zion Phifer gain 19 yards on the first play to get them out of that hole. However, on the very next play it was Terrence Keyes getting stripped and fumbling the ball, allowing the Lancers to set up shop on the 17.
Zach Branam is an extremely patient runner behind his blockers, this young man is the real deal and can beat you a number of ways. A few players later, it was Wildcat time and the Tigers had no chance at stopping a charging Porter who broke the plain to put the Lancers up 14-3 with 10:34 left in the first half.
The Tigers were not fazed however and responded right back. This time it was Longwell dropping a 38-yard dime to a wide-open Jayden Ballard to make it 14-10 and put Massillon right back in the game. Longwell threw the ball like a frozen rope right on the money. With 8:42 still to play in the first half, this one had shootout written all over it.
It was yet another a long drive almost all on the ground by the Lancers. Once again, it was Cam Porter getting them across the goal line with 6:04 to go in the half, giving the Lancers a 21-10 lead. Porter finished it, but it was a total team effort as the Lancers line dominated, and runs by Brannam kept the Tigers honest.
Longwell hit Wilson Lamp again, this time for 69 yards with 1:10 to go in the first half. No one was within 20 yards of the speed demon Lamp, and just like that it was 21-17. The Tigers still trailed but knew they would receive the ball to start the second half and things were looking up.
The first half was a story of Massillon passing all over the Lancers. And La Salle running all over the Tigers. Need proof? Check these numbers out. Through two quarters, Aiden Longwell was 4 of 7 for 171 yards and 2 scores. For the Lancers, Brannam, Porter and Payne combined for 227 rushing yards on 29 carries for 3 scores.
With all the momentum on their side, the Tigers failed to score on the opening drive of the second half. A promising Lancer drive was then shut down by a hurdling call on Porter, which in high school is a 15-yard personal foul.
The first play following the Lancer punt resulted in disaster for the Tigers however as this time it was Phifer fumbling. Two very costly fumbles by the Tigers two best rushers.
Once again, like it was in the first half, slow methodical drives resulted in first downs. Using all three downs, chewing up clock and piling up yards put the Lancers back in the redzone.
Once they got their first and goal from the four, it was jumbo set and Wildcat time as Porter rumbled in to make it 28-17. It was Porters 3rd touchdown of the game and the Tigers didn’t have an answer for the Wildcat jumbo.
With 9:30 left to play. Seibert hit a 43-yard field goal to stretch the Lancer lead to 31-17 and really place the Tigers behind the eight ball. Seibert would then put the final nail in the coffin as he bombed a 38 yarder with 2:26 to go. This kick put the Lancers up 34-17, ending all doubt.
Congrats to the Lancers on a tremendous season!
It is unfortunate Massillon came up short but you have to tip your hat to LaSalle for a job well done.