AJ Lakeland

By Adam Roberts aroberts@theabingtonjournal.com

JERMYN- In front of the homecoming crowd, the Lakeland Chiefs football team turned a one-point halftime deficit into a 46-21 win over Meyers High School on Friday, Oct. 9.

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Ryan Grande, shown above, on a 25-yard touchdown run to end the game.

Abington Journal Photo/Ellen Bugno

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Lakeland’s quarterback Ryan Kiehart, shown above, finished the game with a pair of rushing touchdowns.

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The Chiefs earned their first home win of the season, propelling their record to 3-3. Lakeland’s run-focused offense featured a pair of rushing touchdowns from three different players, quarterback Ryan Kiehart, fullback Al Tuzze and tailback Brett Kuwik.

When the game was over, Lakeland had posted 315 rushing yards with just 37 yards in the air.

“We knew all week we had to get the ball moving,” said Tuzze, who rushed for 67 yards.

The first half was barely the blowout that final score indicates. Meyers struck first after a 21-yard touchdown from Jamie Jayne. On the next possession, Lakeland answered with a four-yard Tuzze touchdown.

Jayne answered back for the Mohawks, running in from six yards out.

Tony Peregrin set the Chiefs up for their next score when he recovered a fumble deep in Meyers’ territory in the final minutes of the first quarter.

Kuwik’s 16-yard run set up a quarterback keeper to Kiehart to put the Chiefs on the board 13-14.

The score carried into the half.

The Chiefs defense struggled to keep the Mohawks offense in check early.

“Their offense was different than we saw on film,” Lakeland coach Jeff Wasilchak said.

He explained that his team prepared for a shot-gun centered attacked, but lined up against a full backfield. With linebacker and line adjustments Wasilchak reoriented his defensive unit.

Their fine-tuning paid off as Meyers didn’t see the endzone again until the last three minutes of the game when Lakeland had already built a sizable lead.

After the intermission the Lakeland offense came out determined.

“The running backs and offensive line decided enough is enough with this losing stuff,” Wasilchak said of his team that lost two-straight games. “They told us at halftime, ‘coach, just run the base plays and we’ll take care of it.”

The offense took care of things, with an 81-yard scoring drive to start the half.

The drive was highlighted by a 25-yard reverse on fourth and seven to Alex Filarsky. Filarsky’s run brought the Chiefs inside the five, setting up a pitch play to Kuwik.

Tuzze chipped in by rushing for the two-point conversion.

From there the Chiefs kept running, adding four more rushing touchdowns to their effort.

The ground attack was assisted by Randy Galinsky’s 14-yard touchdown and a 25-yard touchdown run to end the game from Ryan Grande.

Lakeland will travel to Riverside Friday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m.