News and Announcements
Posted: 2007-09-08
2007 GAME SUMMARY: Varsity vs. Lakeland
Hartland falls to Lakeland, 35-21
By David Lee — Fortunately, the storms passed through the area before kick-off. Unfortunately, we needed more than beautiful skies to pull-out a victory Friday night. Hartland remains winless in the KVC after losing to the visiting Lakeland Eagles, 35-21
FIRST QUARTER
Hartland kicked-off to Lakeland to start the game, and after Lakeland's first drive stalled, they punted the ball away. Hartland almost faced an early setback when Greg Matthysen fumbled the attempted punt return, but disaster was averted when he recovered the ball himself inside our own 10.
Hartland began to drive with 1st-down receptions from Chris Cagle to Jon Stevens and Vonn Jones, but a fumbled hand-off exchange between Drew Mixter and Cagle turned the ball over to Lakeland at mid-field.
However, that didn't give our offense time to rest. On Lakeland's first play of that series, Matthysen (playing safety on defense) stepped in front of the Lakeland receiver running a square-in, picked-off the pass, and took it down to the Lakeland 41.
After the pick, Hartland couldn't convert on 4th and 1 after Cagle's pass to Stevens was dropped incomplete. Lakeland then marched down the field running very effective dive-options with their QB carrying out his fakes.
At one point in the series, Lakeland's RB couldn't handle the QB pitch and fumbled the ball — which Hartland appeared to have recovered. The refs then overturned the call and Lakeland maintained possession. They continued that drive into the 2nd quarter. Score, 0-0 at the end of the 1st.
SECOND QUARTER
Hartland's defense continued to struggle and adjust to the dive-option and Lakeland eventually punched it in from the 1-yard out on a QB sneak at 8:45 in the 2nd. Extra point good, Lakeland led 7-0.
After a decent kick return by Matthysen, Hartland started to mix it up. I fake reverse (Video #1002) was called which had Mixter faking an end-around run to Matthysen. Although Mixter gained 9 yards on the fake, the "reverse" had everyone fooled — yet, we never went back to it. Cagle picked up the 1st down on a keeper. On 1st and 10, Cagle hit a diving Matthysen on a long pass down the left sidelines (Video #1003).
Later in that same drive, after a couple of Mixter carries, Cagle once again found Matthysen on a slant route — which he was tackled on the 1-yard line (Video #1004). Cagle's keeper (Video #1005)on the next play got Hartland on the board at 6:34 in the 2nd. Each Minor's extra point was good. Score, 7-7.
The ensuing kick-off was a disaster. Coverage containment was broke, open-field tackling was nonexistent, and Lakeland's return man was touched (barely) by only one Hartland player on his way to the end-zone. After the extra point, the score was 14-7, Lakeland. Frustrating — after a several-minute drive to even the score, we give away 7 points in a matter of seconds.
Hartland could not get anything going on the next possession and had to punt. Same for Lakeland's following possession.
On Hartland's next possession, Cagle had a great run down the left side for a huge gain (Video #1006). However, we again couldn't sustain the drive and had to punt. Passes were attempted — some completed — but they were all short of the 1st-down marker. (Comment: We needed to call plays and run routes past the 1st-down markers — especially in 3rd and 5 situations, with 1:10 left in the 2nd, in Lakeland territory, with timeouts remaining. Gathering ourselves, punching another one in and going into half-time tied-up at 14 would have made a big difference.)
Lakeland ran-out the clock and we went into half-time with Lakeland leading 14-7.
THIRD QUARTER
The first 15 seconds of the 3rd quarter were not so good. Starting on our own 20, our first play was a dropped pass to an open Kyle Summerfield. The next play was a Lakeland interception. There was an apparent miscommunication as the receiver went one way and Cagle through another. Lakeland ran the interception back to inside our 5-yard line. On the very next play, Lakeland quick-pitched right, and the RB found the end-zone. The extra point was good. Lakeland led 21-7 at 11:45 left in the 3rd.
On the next possession, we saw something a little different. Mixter lined up at QB in the shotgun formation, took the snap, ran up the middle and over a Lakeland defender, before taking a huge hit by another (Video #1007). The offensive line broke-down on the next two plays and we were facing a 3rd on 19 situation. Cagle then over-threw a wide open Vonn Jones down the right sideline — forcing us to punt from our own 10-yard line.
Lakeland's next drive included a pitch-left that was taken down inside our 5-yard line, but called back due to an offensive penalty. On 4th and short, they again fumbled an option pitch, recovered it themselves, but came up short and turned the ball over.
Hartland, however, could not capitalize on the turnover. On the first two plays, Lakeland's defense was able to penetrate and stuff our offensive plays. On third down, Matthysen dropped a sure-1st-down pass — forcing Hartland again to punt deep in their own territory.
Lakeland didn't waste anytime taking advantage of the great field position. They went to the air, down the left sideline and over the top of Hartland DB, Jared Felix. The extra point kick was good and Lakeland led 28-7 with 5:44 left in the 3rd.
Hartland's next possession was some good football playing. The passing game started to click, and Matthysen continued adding to his career-high 14 catches for 152 yards. Stevens added a key reception after a Cagle scramble right to keep the drive alive (Video #1008). Mixter also continued to run over defenders. Cagle had a great run on the left side for a sizable gain to put us in position to score.
After a pass completion to Jones that took us even closer to the 3-yard line (Video #1009), the offensive line provided a HUGE hole on the left side for Mixter to high-step into the end-zone with 1:56 left in the 3rd (Video #1010). Extra point kick by Minor was good, putting the score at 28-14, Lakeland.
But, just like last time we got on the board, that "feel good" feeling didn't last but only a few seconds. Lakeland took the ensuing kick-off down to our 25-yard line. Then on the next play, they ran it off-tackle right, their RB cutting back left to the end-zone with 1:01 left in the 3rd. You could hear the collective gasp in the crowd. It was the second time in that night we scored and gave it right back to Lakeland. Score, 35-14, Lakeland.
FOURTH QUARTER
After the Lakeland score, Hartland couldn't get anything together. They didn't look nothing like they did in their previous, confident-looking drive. Hartland had to punt. Fortunately, Lakeland stumbled on their next drive and punted back to us.
Hartland started to put together another good-looking drive with pass receptions to Matthysen, Thomas Lashbrook and runs by Cagle and Mixter. However, a series of dropped passes by Jones, Stevens and Mixter forced us into a 4th and 10 situation. Hartland lined-up to go for it, and the Cagle-Matthysen connection delivered. Cagle hit Matthysen on a deep out route for a 1st down. After two plays, they connected again on A fade down the left sideline — Matthysen leaping over the defender in the end-zone for the score. Minor's extra point was good — Hartland trailed 35-21 with 5:51 left in the game.
Hartland attempted an onside kick, but too much leg sent it out of bounds. Lakeland then moved the ball and chewed-up the clock, until their third fumbled pitch was recovered by Hartland — giving us hope late in the game.
Hartland's ensuing drive again had Matthysen catching passes from Cagle. And, on a 4th and 1 situation with 2:07 left in the game, Cagle scrambled right looking for an open receiver, but fumbled the ball in the process. Lakeland recovered and ran-out the clock to seal the victory.