Byron-Bergen/Elba led just 12-0 at halftime, but exploded for 20 second-half points to defeat visiting Holley in the second football game of the regular season.
Senior Mike Shanley took the opening kickoff 73 yards to set up the Lancers at the Holley 21 yard line. He plays into the drive and on fourth down and goal from the five-yard line, quarterback Garrett Chappell found tight end John Hochmuth for a touchdown making it 6-0.
On their next possession, the Lancers had a nine-play scoring drive featuring 31 yards on the ground by Steele Truax, including a 15 yard scamper on third down and 11 where he broke two tackles on his way to the end zone.
After the Lancers defense again held the Hawks to a four-and-out, the offense had a 12-play drive stall on downs largely thanks to two holding penalties.
Holley was able to generate their first first-down of the game on their third possession and another just prior to halftime on running plays by Clarence Moyer and quarterback Nicolas Passarell.
In the second half, Lancer Bryan Hollenbeck recovered a fumble at the Holley 35 yard line and made the Hawks pay just three plays later as Chappell again found Hochmuth on a 39 yard scoring pass. Hollenbeck’s extra point attempt made it 19-0.
Richard Flores had a 15-yard misdirection touchdown run on the next Lancer possession for a 25-0 lead and Truax went over 100 yards rushing on his five-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter for a 32-0 advantage.
Holley scored their first points of the young season following a 55 yard drive led by six runs by Glenn Robb and six more from Zachary Day, who scored on a five yard run in the final minutes.
“With Shanley getting hurt early, it allowed some other guys to get the ball and Steele carried the load for us today,” Lancers head coach Michael Cintorino said. “We have four undergrads on the (offensive) line, so they are coming along well while learning on the job. We’ve only needed to call two or three different passing plays over the first two weeks, so nobody has seen what we have in the playbook.”
Holley had 104 team rushing yards led by Robb’s 26 yards – all in the fourth quarter. Lucas Silvis had eight tackles and Robb added three solo tackles with one sack.
Truax finished with 108 yards rushing and two touchdowns, Hochmuth 44 yards receiving and two touchdowns – both from Chappell. The Lancer defense was led by Truax’s 18 tackles with Hunter Taylor adding 13.
