Lakers put licking on Spartans

JON HALL
Star Beacon

September 15, 2007 02:22 am

— By JON HALL
For the Star Beacon
CONNEAUT — Like the reenactment of D-Day set to take place at Township Park this weekend, Pymatuning Valley invaded Conneaut’s Municipal Stadium Friday night.
But instead of the Allies winning the day, the Lakers were triumphant as they spoiled the Conneaut’s homecoming with a 28-6 verdict over former PV coach Ken Parise’s Spartans.
Behind a suffocating defense and the rushing of senior fullback Clayton Kirby (career-high 202 yards, 3 touchdowns), the Lakers (3-1) won their third straight, including their second in a row over an Ashtabula County squad, and now enter East Suburban Conference play on a high note. Conneaut has now dropped two in a row and falls to 1-3 on the season.
“Our goal was to be 3-1 going into our conference after tonight’s game,” PV coach Jason Root said. “We’ve accomplished that. This a big win against a Division III team. Now we have bigger things on our minds. I am real proud of them.”
Kirby was a real workhorse scoring touchdowns of 4, 55, and 2 yards. His 202-yard performance surpassed his total rushing yardage of the season (195 yards) entering Friday’s game.
Fellow senior Josh Pilson provided a steady running mate to Clayton adding 65 yards and a touchdown. PV outgained Conneaut in total yardage, 327-81, including a 287-40 edge in rushing yards.
“We have two running backs that can run the ball with authority,” Root said. “Clayton ran hard and Josh did a nice job blocking for him. It’s nice also because we have the option to throw to Bryan Easton (2 catches, 27 yards) too. Our offensive line for the most part did a nice job.”
“Very cut and dry and simple,” Conneaut coach Ken Parise said. “They came out and punished us. Ran right over us and around us. Anything you want to say. We didn’t respond to it. We tried but with four of their turnovers, we didn’t get any points from them. They are one of the best teams we will play this season and I wish them well.”
Conneaut hung around at halftime, trailing the Lakers 14-0, behind a pair of first-half interceptions from senior Nick Distelrath.
PV’s first drive for six was a 17-play, 80-yard march with Kirby getting 51 of those yards on 10 carries, including four first downs. Pilson would get his score for the 6-0 lead. The Lakers used about 7:30 of the clock on that drive.
In the second quarter Kirby reeled off his first TD and the Lakers had the ball this time for six minutes with an 11-play, 70 yard drive. Quarterback Andrew Smith ran in the 2-point conversion for a 14-0 intermission lead.
Kirby opened the third quarter getting all 65 yards of the three-play drive galloping 55 yards to paydirt. Pilson booted the PAT for a 21-0 lead.
Then lightning stuck and the game was upheld for 30 minutes.
In the final quarter teams traded scores as Conneaut came to life avoiding the shutout when they recovered a fumble at the PV 23. Cody Blood scored three plays later going in from four yards away.
Kirby then capped an 11-play, 57-yard drive as PV chewed up plenty of play clock bulldozing his way in for his final TD.
“Our offensive line did a amazing job blocking,” Kirby said of his line. “Their tackles and ends were split out very far so our line just blew it up for us. Pilson went in there and took out the linebackers. Most yards I have ever had.”

Hall is a freelance writer from Andover.

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