Loyalsock honors longtime supporter with a victory

Tagged under: District 4, News

Chris Masse sungazette.com/ | October 20, 2018

Players came and went, but Albert Stopper remained a constant, never missing Loyalsock games.

One has the feeling that did not change Friday night either.

Stopper, whose son Denny is a Lancer offensive coach and whose grandson Derek Gee is a senior starter, passed away Friday morning. Stopper still coached, Gee still played through a torn ACL and Loyalsock honored their long-time supporter the best way they could, playing their best game this season.

Chase Cavanaugh threw for a career-high 252 yards, Gerald Ross caught three touchdowns and became the area’s all-time career receiving yardage leader and a dominant defense allowed just 54 yards as Loyalsock overpowered Warrior Run, 36-0 to capture a share of the HAC-II championship. Jaiden Cioffi topped 100 yards receiving, the Lancers (5-4, 4-1) won their third straight game and clinched a seventh consecutive district playoff berth while also showing that they could be a tough postseason out.

Somewhere Albert Stopper had to be smiling.

“We played with a heavy heart and a large amount of determination for (Stopper), not only to win the game, but to play the right way. We wanted to have great attitudes and do things the way that he would have wanted his kids to play,” Loyalsock coach Justin Van Fleet said. “He’s a huge loss for the community and for that family and the Loyalsock family. On the coaching staff, Coach Stopper is universally everyone’s favorite and I’m happy to have him here with the kids and be able to share his spirit with them.”

“We did this for Coach Stopper. His father passed away today and Coach gave us some motivation and I’m thinking that’s what set us up for it,” Cioffi said after catching seven passes for 108 yards. “Our defense came out firing and our offense did the job and it was a great win.”

Loyalsock has come a long way over the last three weeks and has scored 63 consecutive points over the past six quarters. The Lancers lost, not only all-state quarterback Connor Watkins in Week 4, but also several starting offensive linemen and defensive starters while falling to 2-4. The silver lining was the depth Loyalsock built during that time and the character it revealed. Instead of buckling, the Lancers have rallied back. They are healthier now, too, and are peaking at the perfect time.

Cavanaugh continues growing into a strong quarterback and completed 18 of 24 passes, as well as three touchdowns. Ross caught 10 passes for 130 yards and the defense did not allow the Defenders a second first down until midway through the third quarter. A fog started overtaking the field during that third quarter, but soon lifted and the scene provided what might be this team’s 2018 symbol.

“We started coming together more as a family,” Cavanaugh said. “We’re working together harder and not arguing. We started winning games and it feels awesome.”

“Adversity really does show your character, some people in a positive light, some in a negative light. What we learned is we had a large amount of growth needed to become the team we need to be and through those tough times that’s what we focused on,” Van Fleet said. “We put our heads down, worked together and grew together.”

Loyalsock made a statement on the game’s first series, going 74 yards on 15 plays in six minutes. Micai Henriquez, who did not play running back until last week, ran for 41 yards on that drive that Cavanaugh capped with a 5-yard fourth-down touchdown to a leaping Ross. Henriquez (62 yards) capped the ensuing drive with a touchdown and Loyalsock held the ball nearly 10 minutes in the opening quarter.

Cavanaugh smoothly ran the hurry-up offense late in second quarter, scoring a 1-yard touchdown that made it 21-0 at halftime. Loyalsock overwhelmed Warrior Run on both sides of the ball during those first quarters, outgaining it, 214-26, running 25 more plays and holding the ball for 18 minutes. Offensive linemen Tristan Hartman, Malaki Parlante, Aspen Stahl-Emig, Bam Brima, Carmen Barone and Matt Hill worked in harmony and Loyalsock’s starters scored on six of their eight possessions, inflicting the mercy rule by midway through the fourth quarter.

Cavanaugh moved within four yards of reaching 1,000 despite not making his first start until Week 5. The sophomore keeps progressing each week and was on target with nearly every throw. He helped Loyalsock put the game out of reach in the second half, hitting Ross in stride with 20 and 48-yard touchdown passes. The latter score pushed Ross past Williamsport graduate Jerah Reeves and gave him an area record 2,128 career receiving yards.

“I felt locked in. I felt like I could make every throw I tried. I put it up there and threw some good passes that I knew my receivers could catch,” Cavanaugh said. “All the receivers are tall and can make plays. I have other receivers that are quick and I can get the ball to them so that helps a lot.”

A stifling defense kept providing the offense opportunities. The Lancers did not surrender a first down until midway through the second quarter and Warrior Run crossed the 50-yard line just once. Barone and Brima dominated up front, Simone Mileto and Eli Holler anchored a strong linebacking unit and Cioffi, Ross and Dane Armson blanketed receivers. Gage Moon made a fourth-quarter interception while Barone and Korie Mayer added sacks.

Loyalsock’s defense was perceived as a potential weekness early this season. Instead, it has become a strength. Loyalsock held Warrior Run to less than a yard per carry and 22 of the team’s 37 plays either lost yards or gained no yards. The Defenders produced just four first downs and Loyalsock has surrendered just 21 points during its winning streak.

“A lot of people have been saying our defense is weak but I think that’s our best part right now,” said Cioffi who made his defensive debut in Week 4. “We have a lot people stepping up right now. All together as a team, the offense and defense and shutting them down, we played great.”

“Starting off the season we were known as an offensive juggernaut with a defense that would bend heavily. It wasn’t something we were necessarily taking as much pride in as a unit and therefore when the tables turned the defense really rose up,” Van Fleet said. “The coaching staff worked their tails off to change schemes, adjust bodies and the kids who went in to those tough positions have performed really well.”

Loyalsock remained in the hunt to host a first-round District 4 Class AAA home playoff game. It, Lewisburg and Shamokin are all fighting for that spot and all have the same records. The Lancers end their regular season at home against rival South Williamsport next Friday. Warrior Run can still reach districts for the first time since 2007 and is fighting Mifflinburg and Milton for the final spot. The Defenders can help their cause if they win their finale against CMVT.

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