Ground game gets Lakeland into sectional football semifinals by Greg Tartaglia of The Record
WANAQUE – Lakeland was so focused on running the football, the Lancers didn’t even realize how effectively they did so until Friday night’s state playoff game was over.
Quarterback Michael McKay and tailbacks Kelvin Gonzalez and Anthony Tanner each eclipsed the century mark on the ground, as the No. 2 seed in the North 1, Group 2 bracket blanked No. 7 Mahwah, 33-0.
“Really?” Gonzalez responded when told of his team’s three, 100-yard rushers.
“Oh wow, that’s awesome,” Lakeland coach Tom McCormack said.
The Lancers (9-1) advanced to the sectional semifinals for the first time since 2012. Next weekend, they’ll host the winner of Saturday’s game between No. 3 Manchester and No. 6 Waldwick/Midland Park.
MORE: NV/Demarest rolls past Dwight Morrow and into semifinals
MORE: Pompton Lakes rides Negrini past Emerson and into semifinals
MORE: Behind Calvetti, Ridgewood rolls to playoff win over Clifton
MORE: Westwood dominates Ramsey from opening kickoff
“We’re going to watch some film first, then we’ll head over to the Manchester game and scout [those teams],” Gonzalez said.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior did some scouting of Mahwah (4-6) in person three weeks ago, when he ran 15 times for 204 yards and five touchdowns in a 34-14 Lakeland win.
“It’s just like any other game,” Gonzalez said of the rematch. “I try my hardest, no matter what.”
Key stats: On Friday, Gonzalez finished with 15 carries for 100 yards and three touchdowns. McKay ran a bootleg 80 yards for a TD on the second play of the third quarter to end with 11 carries for 144. Tanner came on in relief of Gonzalez in the second half, scored a 59-yard touchdown and totaled 112 on 10 carries.
The grand total: 36 rushes for 356 yards, four shy of an even 10.0-yard average.
Quotable: “Coaches say, to win championships, you have to run the football. And we’re committed to it… Anthony is our No. 2, he’s our junior, and Kelvin’s the beast. So, it’s a great 1-2 punch, and Ryan Sullivan, the other running back, came back after being injured in the preseason.” –McCormack
Points off turnovers: Lakeland got its second touchdown after stopping a Mahwah fake punt to force a turnover on downs at the Thunderbirds’ 40. Four plays later, Gonzalez went in from 16 yards out.
In the second quarter, Pat Keyser made an interception that set up a 29-yard Gonzalez TD on the ensuing play.
Injury report: McKay has played quarterback for the past three games while starter Marc Fajardo is out due to illness. The junior completed 3-of-7 passes – all in the first half – with two going to Gonzalez for 62 yards, and one going to Mike Canzone for 15.
Super sophomores: Mahwah had a pair of 10th-graders as its leading rushers. QB Kyle Teel ran 18 times for 55 yards, and Ryan Cabrera had four for 32. Teel also threw for 63 yards, with all four of his completions going to senior Matthew Walters.
History in the past: The T-Birds had won the teams’ only previous playoff meeting, 21-3, in the 2013 North 1, Group 3 first round.