Harris sparks Lancers to playoff spot

Junior running back DeMario Harris made sure that his Brookfield Central team would beat Wauwatosa East and qualify for this year's playoffs.

And he did it quickly, scoring three of his four touchdowns in the first quarter to give the Lancers a 21-0 lead on their way to a 54-12 victory Friday night at home.

Harris ran 16 times for 146 yards, a 9.1 average, as the Lancers rushed for 258 yards.

The win improved Central's record to 4-2 in the Greater Metro Conference, 5-2 overall. Brookfield East remains in first place (6-0), followed by Sussex Hamilton (5-1), Menomonee Falls (5-1) and the Lancers.

Central travels to Falls for the regular season finale on Friday.

In the win over the Red Raiders, Harris scored on runs of 10, 3 and 20 yards to get his team off to a good start.

"He really did (get the team off to a good start)," Central coach Jamie Meulemans said. "He's getting stronger where we can get him more carries. We can stack the carries on him getting into the fourth quarter. He is a good combination of power and speed."

Meulemans also tossed some well-deserved praise at his offensive line.

"I've been pleased with the line play; very much so," he said. "We moved Elijah Goodman to center and he has done a great job. Austin Cebula moved to left guard and Luke Rassmussen has done a good job at tackle."

Junior quarterback Riley Richarz took over in the second quarter on Friday, scoring on a 2-yard run and tossing a 45-yard touchdown pass to Jason Toney before Harris ran in his fourth touchdown from 16 yards out and a 41-0 lead.

Sophomore quarterback Jackson Telderer connected with wide receiver Shaquille Redding for a 68-yard score to finally put the Red Raiders on the scoreboard with 3 minutes, 9 seconds left in the half.

Junior defensive back Terry Wallen then intercepted a pass and raced 78 yards for a score and a 41-6 halftime lead.

In the fourth quarter, Tosa East scored when Jalen Wilken ran in a Lancers fumble for a touchdown and Central senior wide receiver Robert Rossmueller ran in a score from 12 yards out with 2:52 left to play to account for the final score.

Wallen, Chikwe Obasih and Billy Schim - he had two interceptions - led the defense, said Meulemans, who was also pleased with his team's attitude going into the game.

"It was homecoming week and there were lot of distractions," he said. "But they had their fun in school and focused at practice. It was Senior Night so that was icing on the cake.

"Now we want to use this as a spring board for the playoffs."