At 2-3, the Lancers are still within striking distance of their goal to win a Suburban West championship. Although their 2-2 Conference record is only good for fifth place at the moment, they are just two games behind Eureka at the top of the standings.
A soft upcoming schedule should allow the team to make up ground quickly. Their next three opponents -Fox, Oakville and Parkway South- have a combined record of just 3-11.
“We should be able to win Conference and beat the teams we’re playing. We’re moving the ball on offense and playing good defense and really working as a team,” senior defensive lineman Lavonta Gallion said.
That key stretch will begin with this week’s game against winless Fox. Out of nine Suburban West teams, the Warriors rank eight in points scored and seventh in points allowed. But the Lancers are careful not to overlook any opponent.
“They’re a tremendously physical football team and they’re well coached. They will be ready to play,” Coach Boyd Manne said.
For the Lancers to pick up momentum in the coming weeks, they will have to continue their recent offensive resurgence. Junior Dominic Bisesi has led a revamped passing attack over the past two weeks, averaging 241.5 passing yards and throwing three touchdowns. With senior running back Thomas Swoboda injured, junior Will Dupont is pulling double duty as a receiver and a runner. He currently leads the team with 279 yards receiving and 217 rushing yards.
On defense, the Lancers played their best game of the season by far in a 40-0 shutout of Northwest on Sept. 24. In that game, they recorded two safeties and held the Lions to 92 total yards. But if they hope to repeat that performance, it will have to be without their leading tackler. Senior Jimmy DeStefano will miss his second straight game due to injury, forcing seniors Jared Brinkmeyer and Devin Stennis to maintain strong play.
“You have to have kids step up and carry the load. Obviously we will miss them, but other kids will have to step up,” Manne said.
The injuries to Swoboda and DeStefano will surely make things more difficult for a team hoping to climb in the standings. But the prospect of a Conference title will keep them fighting until the very end.
