The return of coach Jimmy "Moose" Wallace proved successful as Northwestern scored the only touchdown on the game's opening drive to beat Lancaster 7-0 in the final quarter of the 37th Herald Football Jamboree Friday.
Wallace, back after a two-year hiatus, looked like he was home again on the Northwestern sidelines. Pacing up and down the sideline with his playbook tucked into his shorts and encouraging the kids after the game to get back home and get some rest, it was almost as if Wallace never left.
Trojans quarterback Will King paced the Northwestern offense, completing his first four passes and finishing the game with 117 yards through the air. King found running back Jared Neely for the game's only score, a six-yard strike just 3:55 into the game.
Other than back-to-back interceptions, King played admirably. He completed 12-of-18 attempts, a 75 percent completion rate.
Just like many of the old Wallace-coached teams, Northwestern's defense did the rest, shutting out the Bruins and continuing the trend of shutouts in the Jamboree. All seven games ended with one team coming up with a goose egg.
With the Trojans' win, the home teams won 44-26 over the two-night event.
The Trojans won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. King completed four consecutive passes before Lancaster finally deflected one, the only incomplete pass of the drive before Neely's score.
On Lancaster's opening possession, the Trojans forced the Bruins to a quick three-and--out. Faced with a fourth-and-long, Lancaster lined up for a punt but missed a key block on Trojans lineman Jonathan Shelton, who broke through for a block.
The Bruins' Timothy Duncan recovered in the end zone and returned the ball to the 9-yard line, where the Trojans took over on downs.
With Northwestern leading 7-0, the Bruins' defense came up with a key stop late in the game to give their offense one last shot at tying the game. The Bruins advanced the ball to midfield from their own 15, but could not convert a fourth down as Northwestern took over and ran out the clock.
"It is definitely good to be back," Wallace said, "but the kids did all of the work out there. We are coming along well, and have two weeks to prepare for our season-opener. Will looked good for us tonight at quarterback. He bounced back from a couple of bad passes and finished well for us."
Lancaster coach Bennie McMurray was optimistic despite the loss.
"Tonight was a good measuring stick for us," said McMurray. "Our kids have had a long hard week at camp but came out tonight and played fairly well for us. We'll keep working hard and keep improving and hopefully be ready for Andrew Jackson in two weeks."
NORTHWESTERN 7, LANCASTER 0
Lancaster 0 0 -- 0
Northwestern 7 0 -- 0
SCORING SUMMARY
First quarter
N -- Jared Neely 6 pass from Will King (James Childers kick)
TEAM STATISTICS
LHS NHS
First downs 3 8
Rushes-yds. 17-35 15-58
Passing 3-7-0 12-18-0
Passing yds. 24 117
Fumbles lost 0-0 0-0
Penalties 2-10 2-10
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING -- Lancaster: Jonathan McGriff 8-27, Taniel Massey 8-3, Washington Kofi 1-5. Northwestern: Will King 4-11, Montavious Gayten 3-12, Jared Neely 6-30, Nigee Mitchell 1-2, Sanbobis McCleod 1-3
PASSING -- Lancaster: Massey 3-7-24-0. Northwestern: King 12-18-117-2
RECEIVING -- Lancaster: Robert Fletcher 1-7, Shane Carter 2-17. Northwestern: Nigel Dixon 3-23, Chris Long 1-16, Neely 3-37, James Childress 3-27, Julian Patton 1-10, Lielvin Whitlock 1-4
