Bees deal Lancers opening-night loss

By Laura Clark

Published: August 27, 2008

The Amherst-Brookville game was predicted to be a defensive battle, but ended up hinging on self-induced offensive blunders as the Lancers lost 24-21 at home on Aug. 22.

“I’ve got to clean it up. I had two fumbles tonight,” said Anthony Rose of his quarterback debut. “We just kept making mistakes.”

The Lancers had a 14-7 lead in the second quarter with touchdowns by Rose and Mario Vaughn. Brookville had its share of turnovers, but Amherst couldn’t capitalize on them. In the final seconds of the half, Rose intercepted Logan Thomas’ pass and set up his offense on the Bees’ 30-yard line. After one failed pass attempt, Rose made a run through the middle but lost the ball.

Brookville’s Zack McCray scooped up the ball and ran for a 70-yard touchdown. Dylan Tordoff made the kick to tie.

On the second play of the second half, Amherst fumbled again, this time on a handoff. Stalled by the Amherst defense, Tordoff kicked a 34-yard field goal to put Brookville up 17-14.

Amherst took the lead early in the fourth quarter when Vaughan ran in a 4-yard touchdown. Freshman kicker Tyler Dawson made his third extra point.

But Brookville answered in less than 30 seconds. Thomas handed off to Stacey Houston who tossed to Lorenzo Smith for a reverse play that yielded Smith’s 70-yard touchdown run.

The Lancers marched down the field, eking out first downs with Vaughan and Jamal Glover.

When these two came off with leg cramps, A.J. Parrish took charge and got another first down. Then on a fourth-and-one, a Bee lineman flipped Parrish backward.

“We should have scored,” Parrish said. “We could have pulled it off, but we didn’t execute well.”

The Lancer defense got its fourth stop of the game, and Kirby Anderson returned the punt to Brookville’s 35-yard line with 1:14 to play.

Twice Rose scrambled but couldn’t get more than four yards. And he couldn’t get out of bounds. The Lancers lost some 30 seconds as coaches screamed over the 6,000-strong crowd for Rose to spike the ball. With 16.9 seconds left, Rose sent a pass toward tight end Taylor Grubbs, but the ball tipped off his outstretched hand and into Thomas’ arms.

The first loss in 27 games (nearly two years) left Amherst visibly emotional, and first-year coach Cecil Phillips said that how the team responds would be a test of character.

“I take full responsibility for this one. The kids gave a great effort,” he said. “Some kids are going to step up now as leaders, and they’re going to grow closer. We’ve got to limit turnovers, limit penalties and not give up the big play.

“Defense is really the strength of our ball club until the offense gets clicking and humming.”