Heading into a highly anticipated top-five showdown between Lawrence North and Warren Central, the focus of the game was highlighted by the differing play styles of the two teams.
Lawrence North, a high-octane offense that relies on its play-making receivers to make plays downfield. Warren Central, a hard-nosed defensive squad that relied on ball control and its elite defensive playmakers to win games.
On Oct. 4, however, it was Lawrence North that took the best of both squads and combined it into one in a statement win for the talented Wildcats.
“I was most impressed about how we could stand up to their defense,” head coach Pat Mallory said. “Their defense is good, but so is ours. Everybody was talks about our offense, but I was most proud tonight of our defense.”
Starting with the ball, Mallory’s ‘Cats were able to drive down the field to go up 6-0 thanks to big plays from IU football commit and Mr. Football candidate Davion Chandler. On the ensuing drive, another big catch by Chandler would set up an Izayveon Moore touchdown run to go up `12-0 early late in the first quarter.
On their third offensive drive, things started to slow down for the Wildcats as Madden Beriault snagged his sixth interception of the season to give the Warriors hope.
Knocking at the doorstep to cut the deficit, linebacker Daione Lunsford was able to punch the ball out and take 98 yards to paydirt, in a game-changing effort.
“The first play [on the goal line] #34 [Marcus Bell] was running, and I saw the ball loose,” Lunsford said. “So, next time they ran it I knew they were coming my way and he is a big boy, so I thought might as well go for the ball. Somebody hit him and I just took the ball and took off with it.”
The savvy play by Lunsford would put Lawrence North up 20-0 in the first half as opposed to holding onto a 12-7 lead, a 15-point swing off of one electric play.
After exchanging interceptions and punts, Warren Central would get some life with a Kendall Garnett III rushing touchdown to cut the deficit down 20-7 late in the first half.
After a slow start to the second half, the electric Wildcat defense would come up with yet another fumble, this time setting the offense up at the two-yard line.
Following the turnover, Tanner Aspeslet would find Damario Davis for his second passing score of the day as Lawrence North took a 26-7 lead.
After a couple of long Moore runs in the fourth quarter, it was Monshun Sales that would bury the hatchet with the final score of the night to go up 33-7.
With such a statement of a win, it is not crazy to think of Lawrence North as the top team in the state. If nothing else, a top contender for the 6A title.
“[This victory] means a lot,” Lunsford said. “A lot of people have been talking down to us and I feel like this win puts a statement as the best team in Indiana.”
While a definitive statement for best in the state cannot be earned until late November, this Lawrence North team is one to take serious.
Being 7-0 for the first time since 1989, this Wildcat squad might be one of the best the MIC school has ever seen.
“It’s the old cliche of ‘you got to be 1-0 next week, and take it one game at a time,'” said Mallory. “We want to savor this, but tomorrow morning we will put this game to rest and then we got to work on Center Grove.”