Quarterback Lucas Gansen needed one throw Friday night to seal the fate for the Churchill football team.
With the Lancers leading host Willamette 16-14 at halftime, the junior found tight end Kingsli Roberts for a 34-yard touchdown reception early in the third quarter. Roberts then added the two-point conversion, extending their lead to double digits. Churchill went on to win 42-21.
"It was huge because you got to put some guys in the box," Churchill head coach Layne Coffin said. "Lucas will stand in there and take a shot and he'll put that ball. He's an amazing thrower, and I feel like he's just starting to become what I know he can become."
The cherry on top for the Lancers was Ceville Pasi, who rushed for four touchdowns for over 200 yards and a two-point conversion.
"I just think it means we're on the right track," Coffin said on what the victory meant for him. "I mean, there's a lot to do, but these kids work so hard, they believe and they're becoming tight knit. I really haven't seen anything like it in many years."
The highly anticipated matchup between the two teams in the 5A Special District 4 standings saw Churchill improve to 6-1 overall and 6-0 in league-play. Willamette saw its first loss of the season and dropped to 6-1 on the season, 5-1 in league to drop into a second-place tie with Thurston (also 6-1, 5-1).
Churchill entered the game having held its previous five opponents to 13 points or less. Coffin gave credit to his assistant coach Ramone Reed and his defense for stepping up again.
It didn't take long for the Lancers to take an 8-0 lead on their first drive of the game. Pasi broke through for a 40-yard run and eventually a 3-yard touchdown run. Lukas Babbitt had the two-point conversion and collected a sack on defense.
Willamette counteracted with its own 5-yard touchdown run by Maveryck Akers to make it a one-point game at the end of the first quarter.
Willamette maintained control of the game early in the second quarter with a critical stop on third down at their own 32-yard. The Wolverines then clawed their way to a 14-8 lead on Akers' 15-yard touchdown run.
With over a minute left before halftime, Pasi had an impressive play sequence: He first converted on a fourth-down carry, then ran it for 28 yards to put the Lancers at the 1-yard, then the touchdown and topped it off with the two-point conversion where he broke free from a defender. Churchill went into halftime with a 16-14 lead.
While the Lancers' defense continued to add pressure to the Wolverines, the offense shifted the momentum on the touchdown play between Gansen and Roberts to start the third quarter.
"It surprised me," Pasi said of the touchdown pass. "We were all worried coming out of halftime but that really picked us up. It really gave us momentum and dive."
Churchill put the game out of reach on Pasi's 6-yard and 39-yard touchdown runs to put the Lancers ahead 36-14.
Meanwhile, the Lancers defense put an exclamation point in the second half with another critical stop on their own 12-yard line while putting heat on Wolverines quarterback Tre People, who was forced to run the ball on certain plays.
"Our defense keeps showing up and doing great things, and I think we have a chance to win most of our games because of our defense," Coffin said. "That takes a lot of pressure off of me because I know they're going to battle and get after them or some turnovers."
Churchill finished off win on a 9-yard touchdown run by Donovan Jackson, who took over at quarterback with less than three minutes left in the game. Willamette added a touchdown of its own as time expired.
Other Eugene-area scores
Sheldon 45, South Medford 10
Springfield 28, Eagle Point 21
Marist Catholic 35, Stayton 0
Sweet Home 35, Junction City 8
Cottage Grove 41, Madras 14
Creswell 49, Harrisburg 0
Sisters 58, Pleasant Hill 20
Lowell 53, Rogue River 6
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Churchill football in control of league standings with win against Willamette
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