Lassik Takes to Air Propels Garnet Valley to First Round Victory Over Owen J. Roberts
Tagged under: District 1, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs
Willie McGonigle | November 4, 2023
GLEN MILLS: If anyone knows the historic tradition of Garnet Valley ground game it’s Eric Van Wyk, he was the Quarterback of the 2007 team that reached the State Championship. Fast forward to 2023, now Van Wyk is now in his second season as head coach of the Jaguars, and they are still running the same offense as they did in 2007 but with a wrinkle the Jaguars aren’t afraid to mix in the air game. On Friday night QB Tyler Lassik threw eight passes completing 7 of them for 148 yards and two touchdowns to propel the Jaguars to a 28-21 victory over Owen J. Roberts in the First Round of the District 1 6A Playoffs.
“We’ve thrown the ball more this year and that’s mainly because of Tyler, he has the ability to run and throw the ball and he’s shown that right now.” Van Wyk said of his team’s passing game.
“We take pride in the run and when you take pride in the run teams begin to know that and if they want to send that many guys to our game we’re going to take advantage of that with our pass game,” Lassik said.
On the game’s opening drive the Wildcats came out and showed they weren’t intimated by the two-time defending District Champions Jaguars by marching down the field to the GV 35-yard line before turning the ball over on downs. On the ensuing drive, the Wildcats forced the Jaguars to punt but the Wildcat returner muffed the ball and Chase Wilt fell on it on the next play from scrimmage Ronnie Leraris powered his way in from 20 yards out.
On their first possession of the second quarter, the Wildcats appeared poised to tie the game but Nolan Carroll intercepted Derek Hinrichs and the Jaguars took over on their own two-yard line, but the Lassik and the Jags weren’t pinned deep in their own territory for long as on the first play of the drive Lassik took to air and connected with Caden Olinger for 38 yard gain four plays later Lassik connected with Luke O’Donoghue for a 50-yard touchdown putting Garnet Valley up 14-7.
The Wildcats cut the Jaguar lead in half on their next possession with a 5-yard touchdown run by Hinrichs but the Jaguars responded with 6 play 65-yard drive that was capped by a Lassik touchdown pass to Olinger making it 21-7 heading to the locker room at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Wildcats ran only five plays, but it was all they needed to cut into the Jaguar lead when Hinrichs found one of his freshman sensation receivers Matt Gregory for a 58-yard touchdown cutting the lead to 21-14. Gregory ended the game with 9 catches for 104 yards.
But Lassik responded with his third touchdown of the game this time using his legs for a 10-yard touchdown run on the final play of the third quarter.
Hinrichs wasn’t going down without a fight leading the Wildcats on an 11-play 80-yard drive that was capped with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Adam Stahl. Hinrichs finished the game completing 15 of his 27 passes for 146 yards.
On the ensuing drive, the Wildcats recovered a Jaguar fumble but then turned the ball over on downs sealing the victory for the Jaguars.
With the victory the 8th seed Jaguars will now travel up to Doylestown where they will battle the top seed Central Bucks West It will mark the fourth time in two seasons that Jaguars and Bucks play with the Jaguars sweeping the two meetings last season including in the District Championship. The Bucks did get revenge with a Week Zero victory this season.
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