Unfortunately, the perfect football weather did not end up being representative of the mood in the stadium following LCL’s 28-27 loss to USM Friday night. The game was another tragic one - the Lightning were up at the half and failed to end up tying the score due to a blocked extra point kick in the fourth quarter. LCL was also unable to produce enough offense in the final five minutes of the matchup to win, snuffing out any momentum with a late fumble and turnover.
However, the Lightning defense started hot. USM began their possession at the 31, but a huge tackle by AJ Seese followed up by more stellar defense extinguished the Wildcat’s first-drive aspirations. The offense took over then, with Levi Benes and John Thoni breaking tackles, but neither team would score on their first drive. Seven minutes into the game, the Wildcats found a wide-open gap in the Lightning defense and scored a touchdown on a huge play, putting them up 7-0. Mike Sterr answered though, initially returning the kick to around the 35 and shortly after sprinting down the sideline for a 59-yard touchdown.
The rivals went into the second quarter tied 7-7, but Sterr then fumbled near the endzone on a strange play which led to USM scoring again. Although the extra point kick was blocked, the Wildcats had still regained the lead. The next Lightning drive was all Matt Dobson, who shoved his way down the field until quarterback Blake Thelen had the opportunity to hit Thoni for a nine-yard touchdown pass through traffic. LCL’s kick was good, putting them back on top 14-13.
The offense wasn’t finished, though. Sterr went off for another 50+ yard touchdown run, this one good for 58 yards, scoring for the second time to up the Lightning lead with about two minutes left in the half. The Wildcats couldn’t generate any more offense before heading to the locker room, so the Lightning secured a 21-13 lead.
USM was ready as soon as halftime ended, though. Vidal Colon broke through the Lightning defense for yardage before scoring a 24-yard touchdown of his own that would tie the game thanks to a successful two-point conversion. Colon was then able to convert successful offense into defense, preventing LCL from scoring anytime soon.
About a minute into the fourth quarter, the Wildcats scored again, now regaining the lead, 28-21 in the closing stages. As the Lightning tried to answer back, Thelen threw his first interception that night and was sidelined with an injury shortly after, sitting out the rest of the game. This brought in sophomore quarterback Jackson Menzel, who certainly looked promising thanks to his incredible arm. Menzel instantly found receivers for huge yardage gains, airing the ball out beautifully when he needed to the most. The new offensive spark allowed the Lightning’s Dobson to reach the endzone in an attempt to tie up the game, but Maddux Kiley’s extra point kick was stuffed.
The home crowd was silenced as the score sat at 27-28, their team losing by just one point with a few minutes remaining. That would be the end of the story though, as any following attempt by the Lightning to score again ended up failing.
It was a gut wrenching loss, but the score represented the talent and upside this LCL team truly has. Losing to an undefeated conference opponent on a blocked extra point showed that the Lightning are more than ready and can go up against the biggest of challengers when necessary.