Lakes Remains Undefeated, Beats Peninsula 33-13

Lakes proved its defense can stop the power running game but not without mental mistakes and a shaky passing game against a formidable Peninsula opponent.

The No. 2-ranked Lancers kept their undefeated record alive with a 33-13 victory against the No. 5 Seahawks in a South Puget Sound League 2A matchup at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood Friday night.

Lakes' Levonte Littlejohn rushed for a game-high 141 yards on 17 carries and sealed the team's victory with a 5-yard score on a fourth-down play with 4 minutes, 15 seconds remaining in the game. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior also finished with a pair of TDs.

Lakes (5-0 overall, 1-0 league) has taken the top spot in the SPSL 2A standings.

But costly penalties and a sluggish first quarter hampered the high-powered Lakes attack. The Lancers were penalized 15 times for 135 yards and went scoreless the opening quarter, which they hadn't done all season.

"In the first half, we had some difficulties," Littlejohn said. "We tripped on our feet. We weren't as focused."

Lakes head coach Dave Miller said part of the team's slow start was due to Peninsula (4-1 overall, 0-1 SPSL 3A) being the best team they'd faced.

"We proved we have some work to do," Miller said. "Peninsula hit back and our guys were able to adjust to it."

Lakes' defense made up for the early miscues. The Lancers' defense held Peninsula running back Danny Welstad to 92 yards on 30 carries after rushing for 172 yards the prior week against Timberline. The Lancers didn't allow a rushing touchdown against one of the state's most bruising tailbacks.

Peninsula's Sam Shea booted a 35-yard field goal after a sloppy punt by Lakes in the first quarter, giving the Seahawks an early 3-0 lead with 6 minutes, 28 seconds.

That was the last time the Lancers would work from behind.

Lakes' offense began to roll after senior Cedric Dozier lofted a 5-yard pass to wide receiver Keegan Love, capping a 7-play drive and a 7-3 lead with 6:55 remaining in the second quarter. Charles Hall Jr. — the military transfer from Georgia — scored on a 2-yard plunge, extending the lead 13-3.

But Peninsula (4-1 overall, 0-1 league) didn't let the game slip away.

Peninsula wide receiver Alex Weymiller caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Austin Filkins, trimming the lead 13-10 with 1:19 remaining in the half. 

A Seahawks defensive stop put the Lancers in a fourt-and-long situation with the clock rolling. The Seahawks called timeout with 30 seconds remaining.

That's when Lakes senior Mane Manaea — disguised as the punter — converted the fourth down play, putting the Lakes offense back on the field. They took advantage of the final seconds of the half when senior David Wood found wide receiver Sammie Long on a 12-yard fade route and a 19-10 halftime lead.

Wood was just 7-for-12 for 88 yards and a TD.

Lakes' defense was stout the second half, allowing just a 36-yard field goal by Shea. Peninsula managed just 203 yards of total offense.

Miller said Manaea's first-half touchdown was important for the ground game in the fourth quarter.

"We definitely wanted to run the ball and get into the end zone and see if we could wear them down a little bit," Miller said.

Lakes travels to play Decatur at Federal Way Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 8. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.