Westlake senior Bryan Kristy makes a quick cut behind his offensive line near the Westlake goal line. He scored his team’s first touchdown when the Demons defeated Bay Friday, 31-0. (Photo by Larry Bennet)

Demons ground Rockets, 31-0
By Zachary Dzurick
Sports
Published Sept. 6, 2006

Click here for an archive of West Life Sports Editor Zachary Dzurick's "Red Right 88" weekly columns.

Westlake football coach Mark Hollars likes his football a certain way. He wants a team built on defense with a ball-control offense. So far, his new team has completely bought into that philosophy. The Demons retained possession of the Little Brown Jug with an impressive 31-0 victory over neighborhood rival Bay.

"Two weeks in a row, our defense has played really well," Hollars said. "We try to have ball control and when the defense keeps giving us three and outs and putting us in good field possession, it works really well. We try to build the program around defense first and the kids are buying into that."

Want proof? The Demons held the Rockets to negative net yardage on Friday, allowing just one first down. On the Rockets 10 possessions, the best the Rockets ever faced on a third down was six yards to go — and that happened just once. The Westlake defense continually set up the offense with great field possession. Westlake's first half drives started at the Bay 42, Bay 45, Westlake 46, Bay 23, Bay 38.

"Our defense is playing lights out and they are amazing," senior quarterback Dan Lammers said. "We are keeping them off the field which is good so they are fresh. It seems like every time they are getting three and outs."

Lammers played very well. On his team's first drive, he completed a big 24 yard pass to senior Joe Hinkle on third and 11 that set up Bryan Kristy's 1-yard touchdown run. On the Demons next possession, the first quarter was running out and Westlake did not have to snap the ball. Instead, Hollars let Lammers go for the gusto. The senior responded with a perfect throw over two defenders to Joe Hinkle for a 39-yard touchdown.

"Dan is getting better every single week," Hollars said. "He found a little extra on the first (touchdown) pass. I was a little nervous when he first threw it, but he got it over the corner."

Lammers had a touchdown pass taken away with a penalty later in the second quarter and the team had to settle for a field goal try that was missed. But Max Outz intercepted a pass and returned it 35 yards to set up a two-play drive that ended with Lammers again avoiding a rush to find Carroccio for a 23-yard touchdown pass. After a three and out, Lammers moved the Demons into field goal range and junior Kyle Speicher made a 30-yard attempt as the first half ended with Westlake ahead 24-0.

"I have a lot of trust in our receivers," Lammers said. "I know they will run the right route. The line did a great job on those pass plays. We work in practice on avoiding guys and I credit Coach Hollars for that, it is something we have never done before."

Westlake fans enjoy themselves during the Demons 31-0 victory over Bay on Friday. The win keeps the Little Brown Jug in Westlake for another year. (Photo by Larry Bennet)

The Demons opened the second half at their own 5-yard line when Outz's momentum took him out of bounds. The offense did not score, but they did use up nearly eight minutes of clock and moved the ball all the way to the Bay 30-yard line. Ouzts redeemed himself with a 41-yard punt return all the way to the Bay 19-yard line. It took four Carroccio carries, the last being a 5-yard run, for the Demons to score their final touchdown.

Westlake is now 2-0 with a visit to rival Rocky River on tap next week. Hollars is pleased with his team's play the first two weeks, in particular the play of his captains Ouzts and Bryan Kristy.

"I like the way the kids are playing right now," Hollars said. "It is good to see them get rewards for how hard they work. Max is one of those kids as a coach you love. He comes to practice the same way every day. He doesn't say a whole lot, he is just steady. Then he is the same way on Friday night. This is two weeks in row he made an interception. He had a big punt return for us. He runs hard and does a little bit of everything. He is a great leader for our young kids.

“Bryan is the leader of our defense and he had a couple of big third down runs. There wasn't much of a hole there and he made one. He is playing well on both sides of the ball."

Lammers completed 7 of 13 passes for 151 yards and the two touchdowns. He also rushed for 29 yards. Hinkle was his favorite target with three catches and 85 yards. Westlake spread the ball around on the ground. Kristy had ten carries for 43 yards. Ryan Smugala had two carries for 30 yards. Carroccio added 28 yards and Ouzts had 21 yards.

Bay coach Gary Sherwood kept perspective after the loss.

"We are a very young bunch and every play we work to get better," Sherwood said. "In the second half, we did better. We gave up some big plays in the first half. We have some injuries and that isn't an excuse — Mark and those guys did a great job. But some of those injuries are making us younger than we expected to be. And those young guys are trying and giving their all and that is the best part about it. We are getting better each play."