Just three weeks ago, the Lancers were in Exeter for the final game of the regular season. Now they are back for playoffs, and the stakes are much higher than before.
The goal is simple: win, and you get a ticket to the Division 1 State Championship game. Lose, and you go home, and the Lancers have already fallen once to Exeter.
To try and get revenge for their early season loss, they will need their big-name athletes to play a strong game, which includes seniors Sam Ogden, Carson Palma, and junior Adrian Cruz.
Ogden reflected on the performance from last game, and knows that in order to win, the Lancers will have to play much better than they did before.
“Last game, I believe that we beat ourselves,” Ogden said. “We fixed our mistakes on defense and made adjustments on offense, and feel pretty confident.”
Ogden focuses on in-game assignments, and believes that’s how they will win this rematch.
“We have to execute our assignments,” Ogden said. “Keep them from getting big gains on us like they do on other teams and shut down their pass.”
Ogden believes that the ride to Exeter “won’t make a difference.”
“We will treat it like a business trip and get the job done,” Ogden said.
What are Ogden’s keys to making the third straight state championship?
“We can not beat ourselves,” Ogden said. “Listen to the coaching and leave no room for mental errors. We have all the athleticism we need. We just have to understand the game plan.”
One of the players he counts on for this is junior Adrian Cruz. After his 200-yard performance in round one, Cruz hopes to continue with his strong play.
“I feel pumped up and ready to bring us to the chip once again,” Cruz said.
Cruz believes the team needs to have better intangibles to come out on top.
“We need to play harder, stronger and with way more passion,” Cruz said.
Cruz said he will need to play this game like it’s his last in order to move on.
“I need to be playing with no fear and playing like my season is on the line,” Cruz said.
Senior Carson Palma didn’t get to play Exeter the first time because of a knee injury, but now he’s back and looking for revenge.
“I’m extremely excited,” Palma said. “God blessed me with another shot to do what I do best and help this team as much as I can, and I plan on taking advantage of this opportunity.”
Palma said he feels “pretty good about our matchup against Exeter.”
“We played some of the worst football of the year against them and still kept it close,” Palma said. “If we can hone in on those little mistakes, I think we will be just fine.”
Palma feels the team will need to “be better disciplined” in order to come out on top.
One of Palma’s favorite quotes is “We don’t pick the ballroom, we just dance,” and that reflects how confident he is with going to Exeter for this game.
“As much as I would love the semifinals to take place at our own Lancer Park, I feel just as fine coming into their field and dominating,” Palma said.
