Lancer youngsters beat Racine Case
Central faces big test against Oak Creek on Friday
Brookfield Central running back Charlie O'Dwyer breaks through the Racine Case line during his team's victory at home Friday. Photo By Peter Zuzga
Brookfield Central passed its first test Friday, beating Racine Case, 28-13, at home in Jamie Meulemans' coaching debut.
Now the Lancers will need to step up their play this Friday, when they host Oak Creek in their final nonconference game before opening the Greater Metro Conference season at defending champion Menomonee Falls on Sept. 10.
The Oak Creek Knights, of the Southeast Conference, defeated Hartford, 31-14, at home Friday, and they are coming off a winning season (7-4) after three straight losing campaigns.
Plenty to smile about
The Lancers couldn't have played a better opponent in the opener, as Case had lost 30 consecutive games going back to 2006. Despite playing without five key players, who were suspended last June, Central handed the Eagles their 31st straight defeat.
Meulemans couldn't have been happier with the play of junior running backs Craig Jordan and Charlie O'Dwyer, sophomore defensive end Chikwe Obasih and senior defensive back Jack Lawton, as they all played major roles in the victory.
Jordan scored twice, on runs of one and 55 yards, while gaining 128 yards in 16 carries; O'Dwyer scored on a 14-yard run and rushed for 73 yards on 21 carries.
"They're first-year kids, first-year running backs," Meulemans said. "You have to get used to that Friday night speed. Every level you go up, the game is faster, college, the NFL, obviously. They have to get used to that speed.
"We had also had linemen play their first Friday night game. I was very proud of them. They were composed."
Meulemans and defensive coordinator Sal Logue also could be proud of the defense, which held the Eagles to one touchdown before they had a meaningless score with less than three minutes to play.
Relying on experience
Obasih, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound sophomore, played a big role in the win. But his reaction was honest when he talked about his feelings going into his first varsity contest.
"Actually, it was absolutely terrifying," he said. "All day I was thinking about it. I had an unsettled stomach. Finally when we started stretching, all the seniors started coming to me, pumping me up, getting me excited.
"Telling me not to be scared; it's just like any old game I played before. That got me going. After the first snap of the ball, I said this is the same as before. It's fun."
It wasn't fun for the Eagles, as Obasih led a charge up front and Lawton played an outstanding game, intercepting two passes - one for a 50-yard touchdown - and making some key tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
"We don't have a lot of seniors playing today," Lawton said. "So I just wanted to come out fired up, probably lead by example. It was important to lead the younger guys like Chikwe."
Second half is better
The coaching staff was not happy with Central's first-half performance, but the defense came out fired up in the second half, stopping the Eagles on their own 21-yard line and then flustering the punter into a 2-yard kick.
O'Dwyer then scored, and Central was off and running.
"We came out kind of sluggish in the first half," Obasih said. "After that we got settled down. The coaches talked to us at halftime; we got fired up. We came out pumped up. Immediately at the start of the third quarter we came out and stopped them. We all made big plays. Everyone contributed as a team."
Walking off the field after the win, Lawton summed up most of the Lancers' feelings.
"I was happy to get the first win under our belts," he said. "We'll be fired up to play Oak Creek next week and then start the conference season with Falls and go on from there."
SCOREBOARD
By Quarters: Racine Case (0-7-0-7 14), Brookfield Central (7-7-14-0-28)
First Quarter: (BC) Craig Jordan, 1-yard run (Jason Meichtry kick)
Second Quarter: (RC) Channing Schultz, 9-yard pass from Zach Brenner (Alec Nummela kick good);
(BC) Jordan, 55-yard run (Meichtry kick)
Third Quarter: (BC) Charlie O'Dwyer, 14-yard run (Meichtry kick); (BC) Jack Lawton, 50-yard interception return (Meichtry kick)
Fourth Quarter: (RC) Channing Schultz, 18-yard pass from Nikki Sharma (pass failed )
E-mail Newsletter
Your link to the biggest stories in the suburbs delivered Thursday mornings.
Enter your e-mail address above and click "Sign Up Now!" to begin receiving your e-mail newsletter
Get the Newsletter!
More from Sports
- Late rally lifts Brookfield East past Franklin boys, 64-61, in season opener
- Lancers boys, girls sweep Spartans
- Brookfield Central boys looking for some help
- Girls basketball: Central bounces back, beats Bulldogs
- Sass leads Barracudas at conference meet
- Sports Notes: Feb. 9
- Two Central athletes sign national letters of intent
- Central announces first Hall of Fame Class
- BOYS HOCKEY Stars' nine-game win streak comes to an end
- East stays winless in Greater Metro after loss to Hale
.jpg)
0 COMMENTS