Lakewood topples Murphy

LAKEWOOD — It had never been done.

Archbishop Murphy had never lost a Cascade Conference football game — until Friday night.

Lakewood defeated the Wildcats 26-22.

Judging from the fans rushing the field and the fireworks display following the game, the gravity of what had just been accomplished was fully understood.

The players definitely understood. Some Lakewood players had tears in their eyes after finally slaying their Cascade Conference foe.

“Oh my gosh,” Lakewood quarterback Justin Peterson said. “We have been working so hard, in the weight room and everything and come out here and to finally end their winning streak in league. Oh my. … it feels so good.”

“Words can’t really explain it,” Lakewood head coach Dan Teeter said. “We have put in so much time and work.”

Dustin Stanton’s 5-yard touchdown reception from Peterson late in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference.

The Cougars had to be resilient. Murphy struck first and led throughout the first half. But one play in the final seconds of the half was a harbinger of things to come. Alex Galgano lined up to punt for the Wildcats with 24 seconds remaining in the half. The snap, however, sailed over Galgano’s head and into the end zone. Galgano recovered the ball and advanced it out of the end zone before being stopped at the 2-yard-line.

Peterson made the Wildcats pay on the next play, going into the end zone untouched. The Cougars missed the two-point conversion and went into the locker room trailing 14-12, but it appeared momentum had shifted to Lakewood.

Archbishop Murphy came out determined to end Lakewood’s momentum in the third quarter as the Wildcats took the second-half kickoff and methodically drove the ball down the field.

Then Brandon Stott made the first of his two huge defensive plays for the Cougars. Stott intercepted Archbishop Murphy’s Conner Kruse and returned the ball 50 yards, setting up a first-and-10 for Lakewood on the Wildcats’ 20-yard-line. A few plays later, Peterson found the end zone again on a 3-yard run, giving Lakewood its first lead at 19-14 following the extra point.

After the kickoff, the Wildcats again marched the ball deep into Lakewood territory, but a fumble would cost them this time. There to jump on the loose ball for Lakewood was none other than Stott.

“Knowing that I stopped a touchdown and we brought it back feels great,” Stott said. “I just like to help the team the best I can and I did my best.”

The Cougars were unable to take advantage of the turnover by the Wildcats, but just as important, they ended the scoring threat.

The Wildcats exhibited their resilience by stopping the Cougars on the next series and following a punt, reclaimed the lead when Brandon Byrne caught a 10-yard touchdown from Camden Buchanan.

Last year, the Cougars lost a 42-35 game to the Wildcats. But Teeter said they learned how to win and this year they applied that Knowledge.

The Cougars drove the ball down the field and had two chances to score from the Wildcats’ 1-yard-line, but Archbishop Murphy stopped a leaping Peterson on fourth down.

Watching the Wildcats take over with just over six minutes remaining in the game, the Cougars didn’t flinch. Jacob Micheletti came up with another big defensive player for Lakewood, intercepting Buchanan and setting up a first and goal for the Cougars from the Wildcats’ 7-yard-line following a return of 10 yards.

Two plays later, Peterson found Stanton for the game-winner.

“I’m just so proud of the whole team,” Stanton said. “And it was team effort all the way.”

“The catch we worked on in practice and stuff, you know reading the (line)backers, but it was all lineman holding their blocks and stuff. All the other routes, everything just came open in the middle and it was just perfect.”

Peterson rushed for 11 yards on 18 carries and had the two touchdowns. Christian Melton rushed for 39 yards on 10 carries for Lakewood.

“They aren’t pretty stats, but the ‘W’ is the prettiest stat we can give,” Teeter said.

Alex Galgano led Archbishop Murphy with 75 yards on 18 carries.

At Lakewood H.S.

A. Murphy 7 7 0 8 — 22

Lakewood 6 6 7 7 — 26

AM–Masanda 6 run (Wade kick)

Lakewood–Melton 5 run (kick failed)

AM–Kruse 14 run (Wade kick)

Lake–Peterson 2 run (run failed)

Lake–Peterson 3 run (Anaya kick)

AM–Byrne 10 pass from Buchanan (Kramer pass from Wade)