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PARMA, OH – Valley Forge defeated Lakewood tonight at home, 47-6 with a dominant running performance by multiple backs. Nick Mankins, Daniel Scheffiler and Ben Farson combined to rush for over 300 yards in a masterful performance.
A bad kickoff return to start the game, forced Lakewood to start from their 4 yard line. A three and out combined with a punt, allowed the Patriots to start on the Ranger 32-yard line. A 17-yard run by Farson got the Patriots cooking. A few plays later it was Mankins polishing off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to put the Patriots ahead 6-0.
The bad luck continued for the Rangers to start the game, as Avery Holt was hit and fumbled the ball on the first play of their next drive. This gave the ball to the Patriots to start at the Ranger 28-yard line. Mankins took the first carry down to the Ranger two-yard line. A few moments later, it was quarterback Dan Kiewel sneaking it in for a Patriot touchdown and 12-0 lead as the Patriots missed another extra point with 7:02 to go in the first quarter.
The next Patriot drive started deep in their own territory, but Valley Forge was more than up for the challenge as Nick Mankins and Ben Farson took turns ripping off double digit yard runs to get inside the Ranger redzone again. Then it was nice runs by Cam Wadsorth and Daniel Scheffiler to get it inside the 7. Ben Farson took it in from there, for another Patriot rushing touchdown. They snagged the two pointer, and the scored moved to 20-0 with 1:42 left to play in the first quarter.
At the end of the first quarter, Vally Forge led 20-0 and had only attempted one pass. Meanwhile, Farson and Mankins combined for nearly 200 yards. Holt, who was a bit banged up coming in, checked out for Anthony Severino to start the second at quarterback for Lakewood. The drive stalled and they had to punt again.
Severino fumbled twice on the initial drive, but the Rangers recovered both. The next time, Lakewood wasn’t as lucky as another Severino fumble was recovered by Valley Forge at the Ranger 22. The Patriots made them pay again, as it was Scheffiler taking it in from 22 yards out, to open the lead up to 27-0 Patriots with 5:40 left in the first half.
The Rangers saw their first flash of the game as Alex Symons returned the kickoff 95 yards to the endzone to get the Rangers on the board. The extra point failed, and the score remained 27-6. Valley Forge wasn’t fazed and proceeded to score on their next drive with a four yard Nick Mankins run, his second of the night. He also had a big 34 yard catch to set up the score as well. This gave the Patriots a 33-6 lead at the half.
Valley Forge tacked on two more rushing touchdowns in the second half by Evan Tappe and Nick Mankins to win going away, 47-6. The loss drops Lakewood to 2-4 while the win improves Valley Forge to the same tally.
Players of the Game
Valley Forge RB – Nick Mankins with 3 touchdowns and 100 plus rushing yards
Lakewood WR Alex Symons with a 95 yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
