Ohio High School Football - Anderson nudges La Salle
November 22, 2024: Cincinnati, OH 45239 In Friday's non-league match, the visiting Anderson Raptors football squad scored a close 28-21 victory over the La Salle Lancers.
The Raptors (14-0) will now prepare for their match against Big Walnut (Sunbury, OH). The Golden Eagles enter the non-league match with a 13-1 record. In their last match, Big Walnut got by Washington (Massillon, OH), 14-7, in a non-league match.
First Quarter
La Salle got the ball first to begin the game, but the Lancer offense stalled out across midfield and turned the ball over on downs early in the quarter. The Raptors weren't successful either on their first drive and they too turned the ball over on downs in La Salle territory. A quick Lancer drive culminated in an Avier Carter punt, and Anderson got possession on their own 35-yard line with four minutes to go in the first. A long pass from quarterback Justice Burnam to senior receiver Trace Jallick set the Raptors inside the red zone with two minutes to go, and Burnam scrambled for two yards to put Anderson on the board with 40 seconds remaining. Lucas Callahan added the extra point and the Raptors closed out the first quarter with a 7-0 lead over La Salle.
Second Quarter
The Lancers began the second quarter with possession, and a long Brady O'Connor run moved the ball across midfield. La Salle kept moving and eventually pushed the ball into the red zone. However, an Anderson sack on third down set up a field goal, which was blocked by the Raptors' junior Brady Kuhn. Anderson got the ball back still leading 7-0. The Raptors once again turned the ball over on downs on the ensuing drive, and again the Lancers forced their way inside the Anderson 20. With four minutes left until the half, Jayonn Saunders intercepted a Pat McLaughlin pass at the goal line to give the Raptors the ball back. The following drive produced two promising Justice Burnam runs, but the La Salle defense forced a punt with less than a minute remaining. The half ended with Anderson still holding a slim 7-0 lead over the Lancers.
Third Quarter
The Raptors opened the third quarter with the ball, but they quickly turned the ball over on downs just past the 50. La Salle was also unable to muster up any points, and Avier Carter pinned Anderson inside the 10 on the punt. With 6:45 left in the third quarter, Justice Burnam was picked off by junior Claude Moore, who returned the pass 19 yards for a pick six. Jack Schroer added the PAT to tie the game at 7 apiece. The Raptors made quick work of their next drive, and after Burnam hooked up with Caden Piening to put the ball inside the 20, Burnam scrambled for a 10-yard touchdown. The successful kick by Callahan restored Anderson's seven point lead at 14-7. Both teams exchanged punts on the following two drives, and a McLaughlin pass to senior Max Welter advanced the ball inside the red zone for the Lancers. With 21 seconds to go, Brady O'Connor ran three yards for a La Salle touchdown to even the game back up at 14-14. The quarter ended with the Raptors in possession.
Fourth Quarter
A Durrell Turner run early in the fourth quarter set the Raptors up in scoring position, and with 7:17 left in the game, Burnam ran for his third touchdown of the night, this time from nine yards out. Lucas Callahan's PAT was blocked, but Anderson had taken the lead at 20-14. On the ensuing drive, Lancer quarterback Patrick McLaughlin and O'Connor both recorded long runs, and La Salle moved inside the red zone with five minutes to go. A Brady O'Connor three yard touchdown run tied the game, and Schroer's extra point was good to give the Lancers their first lead of the night at a tight 21-20. The Raptors got the ball back, and Burnam connected with Trace Jallick to put the ball at the La Salle 5-yard line. With 3:09 remaining, Durrell Turner pushed his way into the end zone from one yard away and Burnam ran for the two-point conversion to give Anderson a 28-21 lead. The Lancers put up a good fight on the last drive of the game, but they turned the ball over on downs and the Raptors won.