Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
NOTE: This story was written for print on Sept. 11.
After three games, Lake has yet to earn its first victory.
The Flyers have played three very good teams who have a combined 8-1 record, but the conference slate is a chance for them to turn things around.
On Friday, Lane Bishop's crew has a chance to earn a big win against Rossford.
Not only could the victory help Lake right the ship but seeing as the Bulldogs have already won two games and are in Division IV, a win would help the Flyers, who are in Division V, earn some valuable computer points.
Lake lost, 38-28, to Evergreen last week despite leading 21-14 at halftime and 14-0 in the first quarter. The Flyers lost in week two to rival Northwood, 56-42, turning the ball over four times and allowing the Rangers to recover three onside/squib kicks. They lost the opener to Leipsic, 56-35, after allowing two kickoffs to be returned for scores.
"Each week, I feel like we've gotten better as the season's gone on,” Bishop said. “I think we've played some good football teams, but I don't know if we've been beaten by anyone other than (ourselves). Against Northwood, there were the turnovers; against Leipsic, we allowed two kickoff returns for touchdowns; and against Evergreen, we were up 21-14 at the half coming out with the ball, and on the first play of the second half, we fumble and they get it and then go down and score. We had a chance to go down and tie it or win it, and we throw a pick-six. We've been beating ourselves more than we've been getting beat by other teams."
Running back Julian Rodriguez has put up some very impressive numbers for the Flyers, rushing 80 times for 588 yards and nine touchdowns. He has also caught two touchdowns and ran a kickoff back for a score.
Quarterback K.J. Magers and wide receivers Jaxson Rymers and Gavin Kohlhofer have also played very well, and while Bishop credits them for their efforts, he wants his offensive line to receive some recognition, too.
Center Isaac Romero is flanked by guards Matt Nietz and Logan Studneski, with Mekhi Gilbert as the left tackle and Solaris Tedrow as the right tackle.
"I think the biggest thing is, while you see those guys in the paper with some eye-popping numbers, we have a really talented group of guys up front," Bishop said. "There are plays where Julian doesn't get touched until he's 10 yards down the field. They put their hard hats on every day and go to work so those guys can get the recognition.
"Julian has been spectacular, thinned down a little bit and gotten more explosive. He's turned gains of 15 yards into 50 yards. Jaxson and Gavin, you've got to block long enough up front to get them the ball, and then they can make things happen. K.J. getting the ball to the playmakers in space is huge. He's done a good job for us. Those three or four guys, when they touch the ball, we have a chance to score."
Bishop also stood up for his defense, which has played better than the numbers would indicate.
"I've read in the paper that our defense is playing really poorly, and if you just look at the box score, you'd probably agree. But there's a lot of other factors," he said. "Yes, Leipsic scored 56 points, but two touchdowns were on kickoff returns, and one touchdown was set up by a muffed punt at our 15-yard-line. Against Northwood, we had two turnovers on our side of the field, and they also recovered the three onside kicks. I don't think the defense has been as bad (as it appears)."
Rossford lost to Northwood in the opener, 44-36, but it rebounded with wins over Waite (33-7) and Rogers (34-14), though the Bulldogs did lose QB Jackson Drusback to an injury in the victory against the Rams. It was 14-14 at halftime, but Rossford outscored Rogers, 20-0, in the second half.
Last year, Lake beat Rossford, 17-7, and they edged out the Bulldogs in a thriller the year before, 34-33.
"It was a back-and-forth game, they just made a few more plays than we did," Rossford head coach Todd Drusback said. "Our programs are kind of in the same situations."
Drusback, who has coached at three other schools, has a long relationship with the Flyers. He’s played Lake the past 15 years with the Bulldogs. At Genoa, his first win was against Lake in 2000, and he scrimmaged them when he coached at St. Joseph Central Catholic.
"Lake has hard-nosed kids, both towns are working-class communities,” he said. “It's a big one, the kids know each other, and it's a big one for bragging rights."
Millbury and Rossford are less than 12 miles apart.
"I think we have similar-type kids, similar-type families, it's become a bit of a rivalry, or at least a competitive matchup," Bishop said. "There are not a lot of friends (made) in the (competition), but there's a mutual respect. I have a lot of respect for Coach Drusback. He's been great to me, I know a couple of members of his staff. We know they're going to give us their best game. I think both games the last two years have been decided by 11 points. It's a competitive matchup, and we're ready for it."
