The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Pioneers spoil Titans’ first home opener
Elyria improves to 3-0 on the season
For the first time since Oct. 18 of 2019 the Lorain Titans played a real live football game under lights at George Daniel field on Sept. 3.
Their opponents — their rivals from the south — Elyria quickly spoiled any hopes of a happy homecoming, jumping ahead early en route to 37-0 win.
“Our kids have to find a way to believe in themselves,” Lorain head coach Damion Creel said. “We’ve got to come ready to roll. All I know is work and at some point something is going to pop for these kids and we’re going to break through this big boulder we’ve been running our heads into.”
Elyria moves to 3-0 with the victory and now embark on their first season in the Southwestern Conference with a Week 4 matchup against Berea-Midpark.
“It feels great,” Elyria wideout Andrew Palos said. “Since I’ve been at Elyria we’ve never had a winning record and we’ve never been 3-0. So it’s nice to be on the other end of things.”
Palos started the Pioneers scoring with an 88-yard touchdown reception on the first play of the second quarter.
The senior receiver showcased his elite speed winning a foot race against a Lorain defensive back to score.
On the next possession backup quarterback Desmond Whitfield scored on a nine yard keeper to make it a two score game. Whitfield entered the game in the first quarter and connected with Palos on his first throw of the game for the 88-yard score.
“(Whitfield) did a great job, it was a great throw,” Elyria head coach Devlin Culliver said.”That’s one of the plays we practice every day. It’s one of our favorite plays. Andrew made that big play and sparked us again.”
Palos sparked the Pioneers in the first game of the season, taking a screen pass 60-plus yards against Elyria Catholic to kickstart a come from behind win.
Elyria added another from Emery Horton as time expired in the first half.
Horton was one of three Pioneers’ to score a rushing touchdown on the night. Elyria’s leading rusher was Jasir Lucky with 74 yards.
Lance Glover Jr. added 70 and Whitfield finished with 29 and the second score of the game.
Lorain’s defense made noise in the first quarter,
forcing a fumble that was recovered by Elyria and then recording back to back sacks.
The Titans offense however, failed to convert on any of the opportunities it’s defense gave it. Most importantly in the late first quarter when Naveon Wright forced the ball out of Glover Jr.’s hands.
Lorain quickly hopped on the fumble which gave it prime field position on the Elyria 14 yard line.
A play later the Titans fumbled the ball right back to the Pioneers. The Whitfield bomb to Palos followed shortly after and any momentum the Titans had was gone.
“Our defense played lights out they gave us every opportunity to make something happen offensively,” Creel said. “I don’t want to keep making it an excuse, but it’s the only thing I can think of, we just lack the experience.
“It’s not a situation where we have bad practices during the week. Our kids practice their butts off, there’s just something about (playing in a live game).”
Lorain drops to 0-3 and will travel to Bedford in Week 3 as they look to put it all together.