Eagles Win 5th Straight, Sets Sights on Salem
Landstown Defeats Ocean Lakes; Sets Up Showdown With Salem Next Week
Down 6-0 early, the Landstown Eagles (5-1) didn't panic as they scored the game's final 20 points to win their fifth straight game and defeat the Ocean Lakes Dolphins (2-3), who dropped their third consecutive. Why panic? Landstown could've done that weeks ago.
When they lost at Tallwood on August 31st on a night that, like this one, was rainy, windy and nasty all around, it ended the Eagles' 32-game league winning streak. Coach Chris Beatty was gone, Percy Harvin and Damon McDaniel too, and several supporting cast members that played key roles in them capturing three Eastern Region Division 6 titles in a row were also long gone. Their 25-year-old Head Coach was even pondering a possible career change. In game two, Landstown trailed Kellam 10-0 at the half, and at that point, it all could've spun out of control. Could've, but didn't.
"Well, I think everybody knew what was at stake at that point," said Landstown Head Coach Steve Canter, a player at Kempsville less than a decade ago. "We knew we had some football talent out here. It came down to intensity. We didn't have it against Tallwood. I think a lot of people we're too worried about the weather before the game."
On Friday night, Landstown weathered the storm, using 192 rushing yards from the young dynamic offensive trio of junior quarterback Xavier Boyce, sophomore running back Sterlin Phifer and wide receiver Nick Mayers - Harvin's cousin. It's a much different change for a once pass-happy football team that averaged 274.6 passing yards per game in 2005. Defensively, they're doing the deed. Landstown came into the night allowing only 128.2 total yards per game, which remarkably, is almost 85 fewer than what they gave up last year. Again, the defense rose to the occasion as they held Ocean Lakes running back Roy Banks to less than 70 yards rushing. The only touchdown the Dolphins would score came on 3rd & 8 when Marcus Davis threw a screen pass to Banks where he bowled over Carlton Farmer like a bowling bowl, resembling Mike Alstott. Even though Banks scored there to put Ocean Lakes in front 6-0 with 5:30 to play in the first half, and later had a 30-yard run, Landstown's defense stopped him five times for a loss of yardage.
"Way back when, I think we were looking around for other people to make a play instead of realizing that our seniors, you're our guys now, you've got to make the play. Ant (Anthony Taylor), Scottie Littles, Greg Wilson and some other seniors, they stepped up and have taken control of this football program. We just make up the game-plans and let these guys play hard."
Now that we think of it, it's not such a terrible idea to win with defense and running the football. Several other teams have used it as their formula for success, why not the high-flying Eagles? Because what it boils down to is Landstown doesn't possess the explosive qualities on offense that they used to where they could light up the scoreboard in the 30's, 40's and sometimes 50's.
"We don't have 80-yard touchdowns in us this year. We really don't have any 40-50-yarders in us," says Canter. "We've just got to try to be ball control and eliminate the penalties, and we've been fortunate enough to come out with some wins." Penalties didn't hurt them in this particular game, but he's well aware that down the road they might, and that there's some areas to correct before taking the field again.
Canter In Control: "You always question yourself. Coach Beatty is a mentor of mine. He told me there's going to be days where you start questioning yourself and how good you really are as a coach and that was one of them. It was raining, but bottom line, we were as bad as we could be that game. I knew we had some talent, but I didn't know how good I was, and I'm hoping to get better each week." --- Canter on how the Eagles turned their season around following the Tallwood loss.
In the third quarter, neither squad could hold onto the football. With Landstown driving in Ocean Lakes territory, they fumbled. Another Landstown drive in Dolphins territory ended in a fumble that Mike Allen pounced on. There were seven fumbles in the third quarter in all, four of which were lost. All of them weren't Landstown's either. The Dolphins had some of their own, one that led to Boyce finding Allen Powell, an athletic player who also plays basketball, for a 25-yard touchdown strike.
In fact, the game's six turnovers - three apiece by each team - happened in the second half. "When you play a good team like this with a team like ours that's not a great team - we're a good team, not a great team - when you make those mistakes, you can't win a game," stated Ocean Lakes Head Coach Jim Prince. His Dolphins would get another chance to tie the game up, late in the fourth quarter, around the five minute mark. On 3rd & 7 from their own 43-yard line, Littles - the team's senior defensive captain whose last name used to be Brower - intercepted a pass. He also recovered a punt block.
"On the interception, I said I knew somebody had to make a big play, so why not let it be me? It's a whole team effort, though, and it's a great win for us." He has seen a major difference in the group since that Tallwood loss. "We came together. The defense kind of took this team on their back and decided losing no more."
When Phifer ran in a touchdown from six yards out with 1:35 remaining, it pretty much sealed the deal. "I just wanted to beat them outside because they have enough speed, so I tried to cut it back in," remarked Phifer. "We have heart and we believe in our team now."
Landstown turns their attention to the undefeated Salem Sun Devils, who they'll face on Friday, October 13th at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex. The winner more than likely will end up as the eventual Beach District regular season Champion.
"Jack (Salem Head Coach Robert Jackson) does a great job. We know we've got our hands full," commented Canter. "The kids are ready. Those are the guys that have to play, we have to coach. Bottom line is we have a lot of work to do this weekend. They're not going to take us lightly. They know their season is on it just like us, and we know every play we play is our season."
Says Phifer, "we're going to treat them like the same teams we faced before." What does Littles think Landstown has to do to remain the beast of a Beach District they've won each of the last three years? "Hey, strap it up and go head-to-head with them; that's all we can do."
