[A preview of this week’s article in the Inside—Booster.]
By Jack Lydon
High school football is back! And the Lane Tech Champions did not disappoint, beating the Shephard Astros 28-21 at Lane Stadium Friday evening.
Lane’s ability to move the ball with effective run-pass combinations proved the difference between these two evenly matched teams. The fun new twin brother quarterback to receiver connection fielded by Lane Tech with seniors Blake Perkins to Britton Perkins added a fun wrinkle to the storyline.
These two evenly matched teams each had a rocky first quarter with almost as many penalty as yards gained on offense.
The game opened up in the second quarter. Lane had the ball at it’s own 33-yard line. Quarterback Blake Britten busted open a keeper for a big gain down to the Shepard 42. Two plays later, Lane’s senior running back Timothy Turner ripped off a thirty-five yard carry to the Shepard 8-yard line on a sneaky counter to the left set up by early plays to the right.
The twin brother combo platter for Blake Perkins to Britton Perkins finished to drive with an 8-yard touchdown throw and catch to the back of the end zone. The Champions were on their way.
Shepard scored on a block punt following the Lane touchdown but struggled on offense until late in the game when it was too little, too late. Lane’s ability to move the ball with an effective running game off underneath passes, including another Perkins-to-Perkins touchdown on a screen pass for a 12-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter, made the score 28-7 Lane.
“The difference was us doing the right thing more than them doing the right thing,” said Lane’s second year head coach Deshon Conley. Conley comes off his first season as Lane’s head coach where the Champions similarly defeated Shepard in the first game of the season and then went on to a 9-2 record.
“Credit to my offensive coordinator because when we did get rolling, he dialed up some great plays. That drive before half time—perfection,” said of Lane coach Titus Perez.
Without overstating the case too much, Perez’s play calls and the execution thereof by the offense, proved the difference in the game.
“We always script the first half, the first couple drives. I like to set them up. Hopefully, we can hit the shot plays in the second half like we did. The first drive out of the half was our best drive of the game. I think it took three plays and we scored,” Perez said.
In the back of many people’s minds during and after the game was next week’s game. The Champions will literally walk out the back door and across the parking lot to play at DePaul Prep next Friday night.
DePaul Prep, a recent 4A state champion, has a new head coach this year in former Rams’ offensive line coach Nick Bizzieri. Former coach Mike Passarella has moved on to coach in college football.
The DePaul Prep Rams pulled off something of an upset Friday with a comeback 32-22 victory over Richards. While there isn’t much of a rivalry in recent years because of schools rarely play each other, it is getting bigger.
It was formerly a big thing. Decades ago, Lane played Gordon Tech, DePaul Prep predecessor, every year and it was huge neighborhood event.
Lane head coach Conley downplayed the rivalry aspect of this week’s game. “I wouldn’t say it’s a rivalry because we literally don’t play them,” Conley said.
Even so, Conley admitted, “Next week is a big one. We are looking for the whole community to come out.”
Lane offensive coordinator Titus Perez was a little more fired up for the game. “I think it is a thing. The kids are friends; they hang out. So it’s a natural rivalry. It’s going to make for an exciting game,” said Perez.
Get your tickets early. The DePaul Prep stadium will be jam packed.
