Lancaster’s second half leaves Chester in the dust

Trailing Chester 13-7, Lancaster scored 26 points unanswered to beat the Cyclones 33-13 Thursday night.

Lancaster is 6-0 for the first time since at least the 1960s, thanks to a well-disciplined defensive effort and insatiable running by Ant Foster and Farrika Grier.

As much as anything, Bruins coach Bobby Collins was thrilled with his team’s reaction to the Chester game being moved up a day early because of the impending arrival of Hurricane Joaquin.

“When they work up this morning they didn’t know they were gonna be playing a football game, and they came out and won,” said Collins. “I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

The difference in the first half was Chester’s home run-hitting. On third and 8 in the first quarter, Chester quarterback Malik Williams hit John Erby with a 58-yard touchdown. No. 8 Lancaster’s answer was a 12-yard march culminating in Farrika Grier’s 2-yard plunge on fourth and goal. That play - the first of the second quarter - tied the game at 7.

Chester grabbed the lead just before the half. Quay Strong’s run converted a fourth down for the Cyclones, and Williams came through on Chester’s second fourth down on the drive, keeping a broken play alive by lobbing to Jalyn Reid in the end zone for a great catch and a drive-saving touchdown. The point-after was blocked but the visitors led 13-7 at the intermission.

After taking the lead in the third quarter, the hosts put 19 points on the board in the fourth quarter, with rushing touchdowns from Foster and Grier, a Trevor Latham field goal and a safety to cap a fine defensive outing for Collins’ team.

Turning point

The turning point came after Lancaster took a 21-13 lead. Chester needed an offensive answer but was held to three plays before punting. The Bruins scored on the next possession to open a two-score lead, Foster’s 43-yard jaunt setting up Grier for a 10-yard score that put the Cyclones in deep trouble.

Critical

Lancaster played well, especially in the second half, but Chester was left to rue several costly mistakes that aided the hosts’ cause. Williams hit Erby with another 58-yard pass deep into Lancaster territory in the third quarter but penalties backed the Cyclones up past midfield and they punted. The Bruins scored on the next possession to go in front, then grew the lead when Chester fumbled a kickoff return after letting the ball bounce right in front of the return man.

“We shot ourselves in the foot there, and then they had a long possession that ate up time and then we were pressed to try and make a play and we didn’t,” said Chester coach Victor Floyd. “We kind of self-destructed in the second half.”

Lancaster’s defense was excellent against Chester’s vaunted two-pronged running attack, holding the Cyclones to just 54 yards rushing. The Bruins defensive line - which includes no seniors - was excellent, especially on a late drive with Houston Brantley dropping Malik Williams for a big loss, before he and Markees Watts forced Williams into an intentional grounding call in the end zone, resulting in a safety. Alex Steele and Blake Payne were also integral for the Bruins up front on defense.

“Our defense kept playing, allowing themselves to be coached,” said Collins. “We gave up a couple of touchdowns that were blow coverages. We told them to settle down and do all the little things right.”

And of course Ant Foster had a huge game. Farrika Grier was able to finish off two drives with touchdowns, but Foster did the brunt of the work, averaging six yards a carry and getting a touchdown in the fourth quarter that his workhorse performance deserved.

Overheard

“I think Malik’s one of the best quarterbacks in the region,” said Collins. “We wanted to make sure we kept him contained.”

On deck

Lancaster hits the road to face Clinton, which lost to Broome Thursday night, 17-14; Chester travels to South Pointe.

Box score

Lancaster 33, Chester 13

Lancaster;0;7;7;19- 33

Chester;7;6;0;0- 13

SCORING SUMMARY

First quarter

CHS - John Erby 58 pass from Malik Williams (Erby kick), 6:31

Second quarter

LHS - Farrika Grier 2 run (Trevor Latham kick), 11:55

CHS - Jalyn Reid 3 pass from Williams (kick blocked), 1:12

Third quarter

LHS - Cordarious Tinsley 69 pass from Darius Robinson (Latham kick), 10:38

Fourth quarter

LHS - Ant Foster 3 run (Latham kick), 11:09

LHS - Grier 10 run (Latham kick), 9:15

LHS - Latham 24 yard field goal, 4:55

LHS - safety, 4:10

TEAM STATISTICS

LHS;CHS

First downs;16;10

Rushes-yards;26-266;31-56

Passing;7-9-1;10-13-0

Passing yards;128;168

Fumbles-lost;1-0;2-1

Penalties-yards;8-66;5-46

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING Lancaster: Ant Foster 28-171; Farrika Grier 12-61; Darius Robinson 4-34. Chester: Malik Williams 10-4; Pha’Leak Brown 13-46; Justin Sanders 3 (-7); Quay Strong 4-10; Javarious Gregory 1-3.

PASSING Lancaster: Robinson 7-9-1-1, 128 yards. Williams 10-13-0-2, 168 yards.

RECEIVING Lancaster: James Killian 1-20; Taron Heath 1-11; Cordarius Tinsley 3-76; Desmond Stowers 1-10; Foster 1-11. Chester: John Erby 2-116; Jalyn Reid 1-3; Sanders 4-57; Brown 3-(-8).

RECORDS Lancaster 6-0, 1-0 Region 3-3A; Chester 2-4, 0-1 Region 3-3A

This story was originally published October 2, 2015 at 12:06 AM with the headline "Lancaster’s second half leaves Chester in the dust."