Lancers’ defense holds in rivalry
When a regular-season game is billed up as much as the battle between unbeatens Brookfield Central and Brookfield East was, it is often times hard for the on-field product to live up to the hype.
But the Lancers and Spartans continued to prove why they might have the top active rivalry in the state, as the two schools separated by less than 4 miles played another classic Friday night.
Brookfield Central used a strong defense and big plays on special teams to pull out a 22-14 win to move closer to clinching a third straight Greater Metro title. Here are five takeaways from the game:
DOWN TO THE WIRE: Brookfield Central allowed Brookfield East two chances to potentially drive and tie the game late in the fourth quarter.
Lancers quarterback Drew Lesczynski fumbled at the Spartans’ 48yard line with 2:36 to play. On the ensuing play, Nick Lesczynski intercepted East quarterback Sam McGath to give the ball back to Central.
Central was set to punt from the East 37 with 1:18 remaining, but the snap sailed over the head of punter Rade Latinovich. Justin Parbs fell on the ball for the Spartans at the 28 of the Lancers.
The Lancers defense held strong again, forcing a turnover on downs to wrap up the win.
SPECIAL TEAMS SCORES: Two of Central’s three touchdowns came on special teams. The Lancers tied the game at 7-7 when Reggie Jennings scooped up a blocked punt by Nick Lesczynski and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown.
Then with 3 seconds left in the half, Central lined up for a 34-yard field goal try by Latinovich. Instead, Drew Lesczynski threw to Joey Cleary for a 17-yard touchdown to give the Lancers a 20-7 lead at halftime.
“Anybody that knows me knows that the full playbook is in all the time,” Central coach Jed Kennedy said.
DEFENSE STRONG: With starting running back Zach Heckman and all-conference lineman CJ Heaney out, Central relied on heavily on its defense.
After East’s first drive of the second half resulted in a touchdown, the Lancers didn’t allow a first down, recording four straight three-and-outs before the interception by Nick Lesczynski.
THREE-PEAT: With both teams entering at 6-0 overall and 5-0 in the Greater Metro, the winner was going to be in great shape for a conference championship.
Central now needs just one win to lock up at least a share of its third straight conference title and can win the crown outright with wins in its final two games.
While the Lancers will certainly enjoy downing their rival, Central knows all too well that these teams could meet again in the Division 2 playoffs.
The Lancers have won the regular-season game the past two seasons only to lose to the Spartans in the postseason.
QUOTABLE: “It is two great teams. We’ll look back and find a couple of plays that turned it for us. It has been a rough 11 months for these kids (after losing to Brookfield East in the playoffs). There’s been a lot of emotion since last November. This feels good now.” — Central coach Jed Kennedy.