No matter how you look at it, this week’s game against Parkway South will be huge for the Lancers. After two impressive road wins against Fox and Oakville, the team returns to Lafayette for Homecoming as well as the start of District playoffs.
“It’s big. Even though it’s Homecoming, we have to come out and play hard,” senior Aareon Smith said.
The Lancers will play their final three games of the season against Class 6, District 3 opponents Parkway South, Marquette and CBC. In the round-robin format, the four teams will all face off and earn points based on margin of victory or defeat. The two teams with the most points advance to Sectionals.
With so much at stake, the Lancers seem to be playing their best football at the right time. They enter postseason competition having won their last three games by an average of 31.3 points.
“We’re finally putting the pieces of the puzzle together. On offense, we’re running plays better. On defense, we’re getting to the ball faster,” senior Devin Stennis said.
The team’s turnaround is even more impressive considering that a few of its top performers have missed action due to injury in recent weeks. Seniors Jimmy DeStefano (42 tackles) is expected to return this week and Thomas Swoboda (151 rushing yards, three touchdowns) will a game-time decision. And now the Lancers will have to move on without their most dangerous offensive weapon after their leading rusher and receiver, junior Will Dupont, suffered a season-ending ankle injury against Oakville.
“It sucks. I wish I could be out there. But we have a lot of other guys that can step up and play, so we’ll be fine,” Dupont said.
The absence of upper-class leadership has and will provide opportunities for players to step up for the first time. Sophomores Deonte Robinson and John Voit have both quietly emerged as contributors on offense. Robinson led the team in rushing yards during each of the past two games, while Voit caught two touchdowns last week.
“I’ll be willing to do whatever it takes to help the team out. I bring some quickness and awareness to the offense,” Robinson said.
That team-first attitude seems to be contagious as the Lancers look to translate their winning ways into a District title. The Oct. 15 kickoff against Parkway South is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. due to Homecoming activities.
