Lancers open District 5 play with win against Skyline

Spearville Royal Lancers football coach Kelly Lampe called his team's victory Friday against the Pratt-Skyline Thunderbirds an ugly one.
    But after two straight losses, the Lancers will take it.
    "I was really proud that our team was able to fight through some adversity," Lampe said. "They came up with a big touchdown with about four minutes left."
    Lancer junior quarterback Ryon King hit freshman receiver Willie Cauley for a 41-yard touchdown pass late in the game after the Thunderbirds (0-5) had battled back to within four points. Spearville had built its lead on short drives after Skyline turnovers and on the shifty legs of newly appointed running back Isaac Aberson in the first half.
    Aberson moved to the running back position this week in practice after starting the season as a wide receiver.
    The Lancers (2-3, 1-0 in district play) had a 26-0 lead after one quarter of play.
    "They (Skyline) sort of stopped themselves with some turnovers in the first quarter," Lampe said. "Aberson ran the ball really well in that first half, but after that, they really shut down our run."
    Aberson, a senior who dubbed himself "Hurricane Isaac" at one of the Lancer pep rallies earlier this season, scored on runs of 38 and 55 yards in the first quarter.
    King, who doubles as a linebacker for the Lancers, scored on a 25-yard interception and on a 22-yard pass to Carson Konrade as well.
    Aberson's third score, this time a 54-yarder, came sandwiched between Skyline's first two scores of the night in the second quarter.
    "The last three quarters were really back and forth," Lampe said. "All of a sudden, we had real trouble getting their linebackers blocked, and it made things tough on us."
    Even so, King was able to scramble for his third touchdown of the night on a 21-yard touchdown in the third quarter. But the Thunderbirds were on the comeback in the late stages of the game.
    They outscored the Lancers 28-12 in the second and third quarters and put up another touchdown in the fourth, making the score 38-34. But Cauley's touchdown reception put the game away and gave the Lancers their first District 5 win of 2008.
    Next week, the Lancers will go to Jetmore to battle the Longhorns Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.