Sports Update
Plan B: Leopards' run game paces 500-yard night, rout of Greenville
BY Matt Welch, mwelch@starlocalnews.com
Running the ball 49 times for 381 yards and six touchdowns wasn't the initial approach the Lovejoy football team took to Friday's 46-13 win over Greenville.
But even with heavy winds forcing a change in game plan, the weather wasn't enough to curtail the Leopards' (5-0, 2-0 in district) most productive offensive outing this season.
"The weather was tough on us," said Matt Green, Lovejoy head coach. "We went into that game wanting to throw the ball a little bit more, but it turned into a game where the wind was just a detriment to us. We ran the ball a lot and I felt really good about it because we got to play a lot of kids based on injuries and it was a good experience for them."
The Leopards totaled 500 yards of offense -- 381 rushing and 119 passing -- in amassing their second win in as many District 13-4A ballgames.
That effort featured three players with 100-plus yards of total offense, including seniors Nick LaSane (186 total yards), Cullon Greene (129) and Zach Saffle (102). LaSane jumpstarted the Lovejoy offense with the team's first four touchdowns, including a pair of 1-yard scores in the first quarter for a 14-7 lead. A 27-yard LaSane touchdown run with 9:36 left in the second preceded a 53-yard field goal from junior Mick Ellis as time expired to extend that cushion to 25-13 at halftime.
"Up front, I think we really controlled the line of scrimmage in the run game," Green said. "We were able to run well against them. Zach played at receiver and caught some quick passes so were able to let him do what he does best, which is run and make plays."
Saffle added a pair of rushing touchdowns in the second half on 11- and 26-yard bursts, while Greene would enjoy his most expansive workload of the night filling in for injured senior Dan Sefcik.
Green said Sefcik will be good to return to action for Friday's 7:30 p.m. home outing against McKinney North.
In his place, Greene managed 90 rushing yards on 13 carries to go along with a team-high six catches for 39 yards.
"Cullon had to move over and play tailback," Green said. "He plays receiver for us as well, but got to be the feature back on Friday and ran great. We ran him a lot between the tackles and he's slippery."
The rushing trio complemented a Lovejoy defense that limited an opponent to two touchdowns for the third time this season.
The Lions' lone successes came early with a pair of running scores by Jakorian Johnson (12 and 40 yards). Blanked in the second half, Greenville would succumb to five fumbles -- losing two -- and a non-existent passing game that was 3-of-13 for 22 yards on the night.
"We forced a couple of those turnovers," Green said. "I thought our kids had a tough time tackling early on, but our coaching staff did a good job of getting that fixed and our kids started hitting them hard and wrapping them up."
The win continued the Leopards' torrid start to 13-4A play, as one of three district squads at 2-0 alongside Sherman and Wylie East.
"I'm surprised (by the 2-0 start) because we've had to battle the injury bug," Green said. "We've had kids step right in and continue to play well. It's nerve-wracking as a coach when you have kids stepping in and playing new positions, and these kids continue to play well."
That district schedule grows one game older in Friday's tilt with North, which sits at 1-1 in 13-4A and most recently dispatched of Royse City, 35-21.
"[North's] defense is extremely talented and they're very physical up front," Green said. "Offensively, they're not real tricky, but they're very good at what do, which is running and pounding on you. This is a game that we need to play. We need to play an opponent who's going to be this physical with us."
For continued news and coverage on the local sports scene, follow @MWelchSCN on Twitter.
But even with heavy winds forcing a change in game plan, the weather wasn't enough to curtail the Leopards' (5-0, 2-0 in district) most productive offensive outing this season.
"The weather was tough on us," said Matt Green, Lovejoy head coach. "We went into that game wanting to throw the ball a little bit more, but it turned into a game where the wind was just a detriment to us. We ran the ball a lot and I felt really good about it because we got to play a lot of kids based on injuries and it was a good experience for them."
The Leopards totaled 500 yards of offense -- 381 rushing and 119 passing -- in amassing their second win in as many District 13-4A ballgames.
That effort featured three players with 100-plus yards of total offense, including seniors Nick LaSane (186 total yards), Cullon Greene (129) and Zach Saffle (102). LaSane jumpstarted the Lovejoy offense with the team's first four touchdowns, including a pair of 1-yard scores in the first quarter for a 14-7 lead. A 27-yard LaSane touchdown run with 9:36 left in the second preceded a 53-yard field goal from junior Mick Ellis as time expired to extend that cushion to 25-13 at halftime.
"Up front, I think we really controlled the line of scrimmage in the run game," Green said. "We were able to run well against them. Zach played at receiver and caught some quick passes so were able to let him do what he does best, which is run and make plays."
Saffle added a pair of rushing touchdowns in the second half on 11- and 26-yard bursts, while Greene would enjoy his most expansive workload of the night filling in for injured senior Dan Sefcik.
Green said Sefcik will be good to return to action for Friday's 7:30 p.m. home outing against McKinney North.
In his place, Greene managed 90 rushing yards on 13 carries to go along with a team-high six catches for 39 yards.
"Cullon had to move over and play tailback," Green said. "He plays receiver for us as well, but got to be the feature back on Friday and ran great. We ran him a lot between the tackles and he's slippery."
The rushing trio complemented a Lovejoy defense that limited an opponent to two touchdowns for the third time this season.
The Lions' lone successes came early with a pair of running scores by Jakorian Johnson (12 and 40 yards). Blanked in the second half, Greenville would succumb to five fumbles -- losing two -- and a non-existent passing game that was 3-of-13 for 22 yards on the night.
"We forced a couple of those turnovers," Green said. "I thought our kids had a tough time tackling early on, but our coaching staff did a good job of getting that fixed and our kids started hitting them hard and wrapping them up."
The win continued the Leopards' torrid start to 13-4A play, as one of three district squads at 2-0 alongside Sherman and Wylie East.
"I'm surprised (by the 2-0 start) because we've had to battle the injury bug," Green said. "We've had kids step right in and continue to play well. It's nerve-wracking as a coach when you have kids stepping in and playing new positions, and these kids continue to play well."
That district schedule grows one game older in Friday's tilt with North, which sits at 1-1 in 13-4A and most recently dispatched of Royse City, 35-21.
"[North's] defense is extremely talented and they're very physical up front," Green said. "Offensively, they're not real tricky, but they're very good at what do, which is running and pounding on you. This is a game that we need to play. We need to play an opponent who's going to be this physical with us."
For continued news and coverage on the local sports scene, follow @MWelchSCN on Twitter.
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