TimesLeader.com

October 28

Kuwick runs Chiefs to football victory

By Don McGlynn dmcglynn@theabingtonjournal.com
Reporter/Photographer

Lakeland Chiefs High School football team paid back with a win the small group of fans that braved the inclement weather to cheer them on Friday, Oct. 23.

Lakeland dominated both sides of their Friday night match with Scranton Prep, coming up with a 25-14 win and giving the home crowd something to cheer about.

On offense, the Chiefs were led by Brett Kuwick who finished the game with 172 rushing yards, and ran in all four of the Chiefs’ touchdowns.

“It was really the line,” said Kuwick. “It sounds cliche to say, but my fullback and my line played absolutely amazing today.”

Both teams had trouble adjusting to rain and high winds early in the game. Scranton Prep struck first, scoring on a John Mariotti 29-yard touchdown run in the closing seconds of the first quarter, gaining a 7-0 lead.

The Chiefs made it onto the board for the first time with 4:15 left in the half. Kuwick made it into the end zone on a three-yard run, on a scoring drive covering 53 yards of the field. Kuwick ran the ball for 29 yards of that on six carries.

Still down 7-6, Lakeland’s defense forced a Cavilers’ punt to regain possession and claim the lead on a five-yard Kuwick run.

Even with a 13-7 lead, Lakeland hit the field ready to play the second half, scoring early in the third quarter on a Kuwick 29-yard touchdown run to increase the lead 19-7.

Scranton Prep never stopped fighting back and in the fourth quarter managed to squeak on the scoreboard again, thanks to a seven-yard run by Mariotti. Mariotti finished the game with 203 rushing yards.

Cutting Lakeland’s lead to five, Prep seemed poised for a comeback, but a Kuwick 73-yard touchdown run, with 6:32 left, and a Lakeland defense that forced Prep to turn the ball over on downs on their following possession, ensured a Chiefs victory.

“I’m really happy with the way we played. These kids just came out and played old -school football,” said Lakeland head coach Jeff Wasilchak.

“They sucked it up and did what they had to do.”

Currently holding an overall record of 5-3 after winning their last three games, the Chiefs will look to bring some of the momentum built over the last three weeks to Western Wayne High School this weekend when they face the Wildcats.

Western Wayne, with a 4-4 record, have won three of their last five games and are coming off a 10-8 win against Riverside on Friday, Oct.23.

Lakeland will travel to Western Wayne to take on the Wildcats on Friday, Oct. 30, at 8 p.m.