Lancers clinch conference share, playoff berth

It’s been a while since Gilmour’s football team hung a conference championship banner in its school.

You’d have to go back to the days of the Metropolitan Area Conference (MAC8) to find the last time the Lancers won a conference title in football. Gilmour has been an independent since that league folded in 2005.

But thanks to the Lancers’ 46-6 win over VASJ on Oct. 20, that drought is over.

Senior C.J. Charleston ran for 212 yards and four touchdowns, leading Gilmour to a victory over VASJ that clinches at least a tie for the NCL White Division crown.

The Lancers (9-0) can clinch the outright title with a win next week over St. Thomas Aquinas.

Gilmour’s win over VASJ also clinched a Division V, Region 17 playoff berth, so a win next week could also mean a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

“It’s great,” Coach Chris Kosiorek said of the league title. “It’s something at the beginning of the year we talked about doing, finishing in the top eight of the playoffs and winning the conference. So far, we got both going on. It’s awesome. It’s regular-season motivation and getting ready for the postseason.”

Once again, Gilmour was led by Charleston, who achieved his 212 yards on 23 carries. He had touchdown runs of 2, 55 and 33 yards in the first half alone. When he scored on the first drive of the third quarter, putting him over the 200-yard mark, he retired for the rest of the evening.

Through nine games, Charleston has run for 1,892 yards and 36 touchdowns.

Charleston credited his line.

“They fought all night,” he said. “They opened up holes for me and allowed me to see the lanes. I wasn’t getting a lot of yards on each carry like I usually do, but they just allowed me to get 3 or 4, and that’s all we needed.”

Aside from Charleston’s huge night, the Lancers got a short touchdown run by Jack Krebs, a 27-yard touchdown pass from Jack Krebs to Nathan Reichard, and an 82-yard touchdown run by Connor Krebs to close out the scoring.

VASJ got a late touchdown run from Lavelle Smith, Jr., but the vaunted passing combo of quarterback A.J. Fabo and receiver Jordan Dean was held in check.

Gilmour got consistent defensive pressure from Jack Kosar and Michael Cerer off the edge, and an interception by Jack Krebs also helped the Gilmour defensive effort.