2011 Lancers Pass Final Exam With Decisive 28-6 Win Over Quaker Valley

The Deer Lakes Lancers (1-8) played host to the Quaker Valley Quakers Wednesday night in a non-conference "tenth-week" battle. The Quakers from the WPIAL AA Century Conference entered the game with an overall 3-6 record with wins over Class A Cornell, South Allegheny (who defeated Ford City back in Week 2), and playoff bound Steel Valley. So the Lancers were faced with rolling up their sleeves and getting down to business against a team that was still mathematically in the playoff hunt entering action last week.

The Lancers started a bit on the slow side but made some big plays; they just could not string them together and convert them into points. Junior Ian Biernacki (3) made a big hit and stop on a Quaker Valley fourth down attempt and then Senior Jordan Fragapane (2) made a sensational John Stallworth over-the-shoulder type catch down the far sideline. However the Lancer drive stalled after the big catch. It was Quaker Valley that took a 6-0 lead late in the first quarter as a Quaker receiver slipped down the middle of the field past the Lancer secondary to catch an easy touchdown pass.

As the game entered the second quarter, most of the action took place in Quaker Valley territory. After a Quaker fumble on their own 24 yard line, Junior Cody Keenan (7) ripped off some tough runs to get Deer Lakes down to the Quaker 11 yard line. But a false start penalty pushed the Lancers back and once again things stalled out. On the ensuing possession, Senior Michael Porter (58) blew a play up in the Quaker Valley backfield to force a third and long which ended up as a Quaker punt. Senior Cody Fleming (34) pierced the Quaker front line with a couple of quick hitters for first downs and facing a third and one from the Quaker 7 yard line Senior T. J. Trocki (26) broke free on a simple dive play and into the endzone to tie the score at 6. The score remained tied as the extra point kick sailed wide left. The defense came up with a stop on the next Quaker Valley possession and then Biernacki rushed the Quaker punter into a poor kick which fluttered out of bounds at the Quaker Valley 24 yard line. So the Lancers were in business with only 70 seconds left in the half. Deer Lakes picked up a first down and got inside the Quaker 10 yard line. Several plays and all of their time outs put the Lancers into a fourth and goal situation at the 2 yard line with only seconds left. Sophomore Josh Plocki (13) slid in between Senior guard Jake Klugh (64) and a crushing double team block by tackle Porter and Junior end John Grebinoski (14) for the go ahead score. Plocki then hooked up with Jordan Fragapane in the back of the end zone for the two point conversion to send the teams into halftime with the Lancers up 14-6.

The Lancers came out for the second half in a Wildcat type formation with Fragapane as the tailback. The first play caught the Quakers off-guard for a 14 yard gain but they quickly had an answer on the next two plays. The teams traded punts throughout the third quarter. While the Lancer defense held the Quakers in check throughout the second half, the Deer Lakes offense began a scoring drive late in third quarter and into the fourth and at this point took the game over. The Lancers drove 50 yards on 8 plays and Plocki hit a wide open Fragapane for touchdown and 21-6 lead. On the very next Quaker Valley offensive play, Fleming intercepted a pass at the Quaker 49 yard line and returned it to the 10 yard line. Four plays later Plocki completed a pass to Fleming for a 8 yard touchdown opening the lead to 28-6. With the outcome of the game clearly at hand both sides took the opportunity to get some reserves in the game. A highlight near the end was Senior lineman Emmitt George (72) who recorded a tackle and received a resounding applause from the Lancer faithful.

11/3/2011 - Trib Total Media: Deer Lakes has little trouble with Quaker Valley

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10/22/2011 - Trib Total Media: Healthier Burrell blanks Deer Lakes

10/15/2011- Trib Total Media:  Freeport dominates Deer Lakes

10/13/2011 - Trib Total Media:  VND Week 7 High School football player to watch

10/08/2011 - Trib Total Media:  Deer Lakes posts 1st victory

10/02/2011 - Trib Total Media: Summit Academy downs Deer Lakes

09/24/2011 - Trib Total Media: Apollo-Ridge changes pay off in win over Deer Lakes

09/16/2011 - Trib Total Media: Ford City opens conference play with a victory

09/10/2011 - Trib Total Media:  Deer Lakes overwhelmed early vs Burgettstown

09/03/2011 - Trib Total Media: Brentwood rolls over Deer Lakes

09/02/2011 - KDKA News:  Brentwood vs Deer Lakes Game Highlights

08/28/2011- Trib Total Media: Deer Lakes planning to build off of playoffs

08/25/2011 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Deer Lakes Lancers looking for a replay

08/18/2011 - Trib Total Media: Stature won't hinder Deer Lakes star

2011 Banquet - Sunday November 13, 2011 at Futule's Harmar House.  Tickets will be sold at the Middle School game on October 12, 2011 or the High School Varsity game on Friday October 14, 2011.  You will need to see Kim Fragapane to purchase tickets.  This is a banquet for the entire program (grades 7-12).  We encourage all players and their families to attend.  All players tickets are free.  All others are $25 per person.

Thanks to all that signed up to volunteer this year.  You will receive an email a week prior to your scheduled day and time.  Please respond to this email to confirm.  You will be provided with a game list.  Do not make an changes to your days and times. Do not switch shifts with another parent, game, etc....  All changes and cancellations need to go through Mark Keenan or Chuck Wadleigh.  Thank you in advance of your service.

If there are any parents that have financial hardships related to any of the fees, etc.. associated with playing football for any level of our program this year, please contact a board member asap.  All inquiries will be held with strict confidentiality.

The next Touchdown Club Monthly Meeting will be held Tuesday, December 6th at 7:30pm at the High School cafeteria. We will use this meeting to discuss all plans for the Homecoming, Senior Night, Sportsman's Bash, and the Banquet.  All parents are welcome to attend. These meetings dictate the activities of the Touchdown Club. Fresh ideas and willing volunteers are encouraged to step up and support our teams.