THE SPORTS DESK
Eastern Section, Div. 1 Football: Drifters take to air, top Devils
BY KURT NICOLL
FOR THE FREE LANCE–STAR
With such a potent rushing attack, Colonial Beach’s passing game often gets overlooked.
The Lancaster Red Devils were the latest vanquished foe to be victimized through the air as the Drifters opened their playoff run with a 40–14 victory at home Friday night.
The victory advances Colonial Beach to next week’s second-round playoff game against Central–Lunenburg, which defeated the Drifters in last year’s playoffs.
“This is Beach football,” quarterback Nick Graves said after guiding the Drifters to 27 first downs and more than 400 yards of total offense. “We set them up with run, run, run, and when they’re not paying attention, we catch them off-guard, we throw in a pass or two and score a touchdown. The blocking was phenomenal tonight.”
Graves completed all three of his pass attempts, to go along with a game-high 159 yards and 22 carries, scoring twice, while running mate Dion Gonzalez was close behind with 157 yards and one touchdown.
Junior Shamar Shanks demonstrated his shiftiness, picking up 53 rushing yards, scoring a rushing touchdown and a pair of two-point conversions, and completed a nifty 16-yard pass to a diving Timmy McDowney for the Drifters’ final score just before halftime, boosting their lead to 32–0.
The Beach defense also had its chance to shine—both Red Devil touchdowns were the result of busted plays—Jaquan Lancaster’s interception setting up the second of four TDs produced in the first quarter.
Drifter coach Scott Foster is surprised by what his team has accomplished this season, considering 13 seniors graduated from last year’s squad and six current seniors had not played organized football before.
“We did what we were suppose to do,” he said. “We blocked and tackled well. When you do that, things usually go on your side.”
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Lancaster 0 0 8 6 — 14
Colonial Beach 24 8 8 0 — 40
First Quarter
CB-N. Graves 2-yard run (S. Shanks 2-pt run)
CB-N. Graves 3-yard run (S. Shanks 2-pt run)
CB-S. Shanks 15-yard run (N. Graves 2-pt run)
Second Quarter
CB-T. McDowney 16-yard pass from S. Shanks (N. Graves 2-pt run)
Third Quarter
CB-D. Gonzalez 26-yard run (J. Thomas 2-pt run)
La-C. Turner 22-yard pass from K. Lee (T. Davis 2-pt run)
Fourth Quarter
La-R. Gibson 79-yard fumble recovery (pass failed)
TEAM STATISTICS
La CB
First downs16 27
Rushing yardage20-111 54-395
Passing yardage126 87
Passes8-26-1 5-5-0
Punts-Avg.1-39.0 0-0.0
Fumbles-lost1-0 2-2
Penalties-yards10-100 10-110
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: Colonial Beach—Nick Graves 22-159, 2TD; Dion Gonzalez 14-157, TD; Shamar Shanks 8-53, TD; Carter Foster 3-15; Josh Thomas 1-5; Timmy McDowney 2-3; Dez’John Parker 2-2; Monti Goulde 2-1. Lancaster—TreVaughn Davis 13-129; Jovonte Smith 1-0; Ricky Gibson 1-0; Kedrick Lee 5-(-18).
Passing: Colonial Beach—Nick Graves 3-3-0 59; Shamar Shanks 2-2-0 28, TD. Lancaster—Kedrick Lee 8-26-1 126, TD.
Receiving: Colonial Beach—Sidney Horton 3-61; Timmy McDowney 1-16, TD; Carlos Bermudez 1-10. Lancaster—Ricky Gibson 2-53; Chris Turner 4-48, TD; Demetrick Lee 1-26; TreVaughn Davis 1-(-1).
