Highlands offensive coordinator Hayden Sphire told Tayden Lorenzen to “take over the game.”
Lorenzen did. He scored three touchdowns in the Bluebirds’ 28-24 win over Ryle on Friday at David Cecil Memorial Stadium.
“I love it,” Lorenzen said. “It means a lot, and if that is the only thing that’s working in the moment, that’s what we’re gonna do because that’s how our team succeeds.”
Hayden Sphire’s dad, head coach Bob Sphire, enjoyed it, too. He didn’t say much to Lorenzen, “but I do expect him to take over the game when he’s in there.”
And the defensive play of the game? An easy choice: Highlands’ Gabe Williams intercepted a Nathan Verax pass for a 42-yard touchdown with 7:22 left in the game.
Ryle (2-3) coach Mike Engler made no excuses for what happened.
“We’re really, really beat up,” Engler said. “We should start getting a lot of guys back. We should have them back for district play, and so I think we’re developing a lot of depth. And I think we’re going to be OK.”
Ryle’s Jacob Savage had a good night, too –105 rushing yards with two touchdowns on runs of 36 and 33.
The Raiders out-gained the Bluebirds, 310-296. The difference – Highlands’ two sacks and Williams’ pick-six.
Lorenzen, who replaced Rio Litmer at quarterback in the second half, opened the scoring with a five-yard run, finished the second quarter with a three-yard plunge and added another three-yarder a little less than three minutes into the fourth quarter.
Ryle (2-3) kicker Gavin Moses started the Raiders’ scoring with a 41-yard field goal, and took its first lead at 10-7 midway through the second quarter on Savage’s 36-yarder – a drive Verax set up with 3-for-4 passing for 46 yards.
Even when Highlands made a monumental mistake, things worked out.
On fourth-and-4 at the Bluebird 35, a snap sailed over Highlands (4-1) punter Cale Harris. There were no worries – hefound Connor Carnohan for 14 yards and the first down. After Williams’ two carries for another 12, Lorenzen’s seven carries for 24 yards – including the first three-yarder – put Highlands ahead 14-10 at halftime.
Savage and Dameyn Anness opened the third quarter with a combined 25 rushing yards, and Verax hit Shouncey Wynn for a 22-yard touchdown, which Savage followed with a 33-yarder.
By the third quarter, Highlands really needed just one option – give the ball to Lorenzen.
The second half was essentially an all-Lorenzen affair – of Highlands’ 19 plays, Lorenzen either ran or completed a pass in 17. He finished with 94 rushing yards, two catches for 18 and 2-for-2 passing for 17.
“They did what was smart at the time,” Engler said. “They put Lorenzen in at quarterback and said, ‘Come and stop him.’ He’s a good football player, and he’s a load to stop.”
Bob Sphire especially loved the Bluebirds’ 15-play, 87-yard drive, which Lorenzen capped with a three-yard run.
“That was huge,” Sphire said. “And then, once our defense got their legs back under them, we forced two turnovers, one for defensive points.”
Williams scored, but defensive tackle Griffin Benke deserved equal credit for harassing Verax. (Benke also sacked Verax to end the first quarter, and Jimi Cox had a sack.)
“(Verax) was scrambling out,” Williams said. “We know he gets a little frantic when he gets out of the pocket. Credit to our (defensive) line for making him move out of the pocket.
Highlands stopped Ryle’s last drive late in the fourth when Ryan Dunn recovered Savage’s fumble.
BLUEBIRDS 28, RAIDERS 24
RYLE — 0-10-14-0 — 24
HIGHLANDS — 7-7-0-14 — 28
Scoring Plays
First quarter
H-Tayden Lorenzen 5 run (Kai Anderson kick), 7:28
Second quarter
R-Gavin Moses 41 field goal, 11:55
R-Jacob Savage 36 run (Moses kick), 5:29
H-Lorenzen 3 run (Anderson kick), 0:26
Third quarter
R-Shouncey Wynn 22 pass from Nathan Verax (Moses kick), 7:39
R-Savage 33 run (Moses kick), 3:31
Fourth quarter
H-Lorenzen 3 run (Anderson kick), 9:21
H-Gabe Williams 42 interception return (Anderson kick), 7:22
Game Stats
Passing Yards: Ryle 146 (Verax 9-14-146-1 TD-1 INT; Highlands 76 (Litmer 5-9-45-0 TD-0 INT, Lorenzen 2-2-17-0-0, Harris 1-1-14-0-0).
Rushing Yards: Ryle 164 (Savage 18-105, Verax 6-10, Anness 10-46, Jenkins 1-3); Highlands 150 (Lorenzen 25-94, Williams 11-27, Niemann 3-21, Duncan 3-11, Kremer 1-3, Litmer 1-(minus-6)).
Receiving: Ryle 146 (Wynn 1-13, Savage 1-10, Smith 2-31, Anness 2-41, Lee 3-42); Highlands 76 Williams 2-24, Lorenzen 3-18, Garrahan 2-17, Carnohan 1-14, Feldbrugge 1-3).
First downs: Ryle 8, Highlands 13.
Turnovers: Ryle 2, Highlands 0.
Penalties: Ryle 9-85, Highlands 1-15.