GAINESVILLE — Wanting to know just what he had coming off the program’s first-ever winning season and playoff appearance, Lanier Christian Academy coach Blake Anderson found out plenty Friday in the Lightning’s season-opener against Notre Dame Academy.
Some of it good, like rallying from a 14-6 fourth-quarter deficit to take an 18-14 lead with just over three minutes left.
Some of it...well, some it not so good, like watching his defense, which had caused four turnovers, give up a three-play, 60-yard game-winning drive in just 1:28 as the Irish Wolfhounds stole a 21-18 victory at the Gainesville Middle School Field.
So what was the final verdict?
“I was real pleased with our effort overall. The offense did some good things in the second half. The defense caused some turnovers. But we made a lot of mistakes as well,” Anderson said. “The first half was like our scrimmage game. It wasn’t pretty. The second half was much better. We fought back to get the lead but then had a couple of breakdowns on defense to let them score at the end.
“We have to fine-tune some things on offense and cut down on our defensive mistakes. But most of those things we can fix.”
Scrimmage was the appropriate word to describe the first half for both teams. Lanier Christian opened with a pair of first downs but then two negative plays, culminating with a snap over the punter’s head, set up Notre Dame’s first score, a 23-yard touchdown run from Thomas Mlakar on the next play for a 7-0 lead.
The two teams then swapped three consecutive turnovers and the Irish also could not convert a fake punt. That play gave the Lightning a short field and quarterback Andrew Perry converted a fourth-and-8 with a 10-yard keeper for a touchdown to cut the lead to 7-6 after a failed two-point pass attempt.
Lanier Christian junior linebacker Isaiah Williams wreaked havoc on the Irish with a pair of sacks and fumbles but the offense could not take advantage as Perry was picked off on the following possession and the half ended on another sloppy Lanier Christian drive.
“Isaiah played a great game, made some big plays,” Anderson said. “He has a knack for creating turnovers. The defense gave us chances early but the offense just couldn’t get going in the first half.”
If the first half was a scrimmage, the second half resembled midseason form as both squads made quick adjustments. The Irish opened the third quarter with an 8-play, 76-yard drive, capped by a nifty over-the-shoulder catch from Joey Pizzarelli on a 22-yard strike from Mlakar for a 14-6 lead.
But Lanier Christian answered right back. The Lightning engineered a 13-play, 61-yard drive, all on the ground, with Charlie Vera doing the bulk of the damage with 48 yards on 10 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown plunge to cut the lead to 14-12 just moments into the fourth quarter.
The Lightning defense then looked to have made a crucial stop forcing the first Notre Dame punt of the game with 9:01 left. They went back to work on the ground with Vera and Spencer Sanderson, who had a huge 19-yard gain, combining for all 60-yards and Vera scoring his second touchdown of the game with just 3:28 left for an 18-14 lead.
After managing just 72 yards of offense in the first half, the Lightning finished with 225 yards rushing -- 110 on 22 carries from Vera -- for the game.
“Vera has to be our featured back and I thought he and (Sanderson) ran the ball well, especially in the second half,” Anderson said. “The line played very well in the second half."
But two defensive breakdowns in the secondary allowed the Irish to need just three plays to retake the lead 21-18 as Mlakar found Pizzarelli for a 25-yard bomb with 2:08 left.
The Irish defense sealed the game five plays later hitting Perry as he was throwing causing an interception and they ran out the final 43 seconds to preserve the win.
The Lightning had five turnovers and did not convert a single point-after attempt. Both areas Anderson said they will address before playing Lafayette Christian next week.
"Again, I was pleased with our effort. We have some things to fix and I think we can do that," Anderson said. "We have to find some guys to plug in on special teams. That will be a priority area going forward."
SCORING SUMMARY
Notre Dame Academy.....7.....0....7.....7 -- 21
Lanier Christian..............0.....6....0...12 -- 18
First Quarter
N -- Mlakar 23 run (Valdes kick) 7-0, 7:26
Second Quarter
L -- Perry 10 run (pass failed) 7-6, 8:53
Third Quarter
N -- Pizzarelli 22 pass from Mlakar (Valdes kick) 14-6, 7:00
Fourth Quarter
L -- Vera 1 run (run failed) 14-12, 11:48
L -- Vera 2 run (pass failed) 18-14, 3:28
N -- Pizzarelli 25 pass from Mlakar (Valdes kick) 21-18, 2:08
