Deer Lakes makes program history, going 5-0 for 1st time with win over East Allegheny

By: Josh Rizzo
Friday, September 20, 2024 | 11:22 PM

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Deer Lakes wide receiver Zach Grant demonstrated Deer Lakes’ pursuit of school history will come down to precise performance. Winless East Allegheny stood between the Lancers and opening the season with five straight victories for the first time Friday night at Churchman Stadium.

The Wildcats gave Deer Lakes an idea of what makes chasing records a difficult pursuit. East Allegheny led twice before the Lancers took control with two touchdowns in the final four minutes of the first half during a 47-35 Allegheny 7 Conference victory.

“We played down to them,” said Grant, who scored two touchdowns. “We didn’t play our best football in the first half. We regrouped at halftime and came back and did what we did.”

Deer Lakes coach Tim Burk said he felt his team learned how to weather these types of storms over the past three or four years.

“When other teams would score, we would say it’s OK, it’s OK,” Burk said. “The guys would look at me funny. Now, they understand. They’ve become believers and don’t feel like they are ever out of a football game.”

Grant woke up the offense late in the second quarter. Facing a fourth-and-1, Grant took a handoff and burst through a hole on the right side of the line. Grant outraced the Wildcats for a 41-yard touchdown that tied the score 13-13 with 3 minutes, 59 seconds left in the first half.

East Allegheny (0-5, 0-2) appeared ready to answer. Wildcats quarterback Cedrick Mack Jr. opened the next drive with a 47-yard catch-and-run that set East Allegheny up at the Lancers 9-yard line.

But Deer Lakes didn’t give any more ground. Defensive lineman Joey Ashi intercepted Mack on fourth-and-goal, returning the ball 33 yards. Burk said he wasn’t sure how far Ashi would take his first career interception.

“I was happy he got to where he did though,” Burk said. “He showed some wheels. I was proud of him for that.”

The Lancers (5-0, 2-0) then quickly went on a six-play, 54-yard touchdown drive. Deer Lakes quarterback Jake Fleischer threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Nathaniel Moore to put the Lancers ahead for good, 20-13, with 4 seconds left in the first half.

The Wildcats capitalized on an early Deer Lakes mistake to take the lead. East Allegheny recovered a Zier Williams fumble and took over at the Lancers’ 46-yard line. The Wildcats went on a nine-play drive that ended with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Mack Jr. to Darmarjae Warren with 6:22 left in the first quarter.

“Somebody asked about up to this point, we didn’t have a turnover all year,” Burk said. “I jinxed it. We have to start a new streak now.”

East Allegheny’s passing attack proved again that teams must be ready to stop Mack. He finished with 363 passing yards and five touchdown throws. This was the second straight week Mack topped 300 yards. Three of his five touchdown passes went to Portis, who finished with 142 receiving yards.

“Sean Benjamin is our offensive coordinator and he’s doing a phenomenal job of getting the guys prepared,” Wildcats coach Frank Cortazzo said. “We have some offensive threats. We have to stop them on defense.”

Deer Lakes’ running attack opened up after halftime. The Lancers scored the first two touchdowns — giving them 26 unanswered points — on a 31-yard run from Jake Fleischer and 43-yard run from Williams to stretch the lead to 33-13.

Williams finished with 268 yards on 28 carries and he scored two touchdowns.

“We can do whatever we want against any team,” Grant said. “We can pass the ball when we want and throw the ball when we want.”

Tags: Deer Lakes, East Allegheny