Don't Rain on our Parade

by Fletcher Kelsey

The Francis Parker Lancers kicked off their 2005
campaign against the Whalers of Ballenas High School
in Parkville, British Columbia. As the Lancers took
the field, they were welcomed to the foreign climate
of the Pacific Northwest with a torrential downpour.
Even with this unfamiliar climate, the varsity squad
did not lose a step.

The game opened with the Ballenas Whalers kicking off
to the Lancers, who opened strong and drove to score
with their first possession. Gino Gordon opened the
season with the team’s first TD on a four-yard run,
but the first quarter antics did not stop there.
Ballenas received the kickoff but was forced three and
out by a senior laden defense lead by veteran
linebacker and captain, Larry Ayers. Ayers finished
the game with two solo tackles and three assisted but
also led the receiving corp on offense with two
touchdowns on two receptions. One of which capped the
second Lancer drive with a touchdown, ending the
first quarter with a 14-0 lead favoring
Parker.

The second quarter saw little change in momentum.
With a 45-yard hook-up between quarterback, senior
standout Johnny Harari and three time letterman at wide out,
Preston Cavignac. Harari and Ayers lit the scoreboard
up with another 6 for the Lancers on a 25-yard pass.
Yet the Parker defense finally sprang a leak; giving
up a 70-yard touchdown run making the score 34-6
midway through the second quarter.

The offense responded as they scored on a 60-yard pass
received by Junior standout at running back, Gino
Gordon. Then on Ballenas’ next possession, the Lancers
scored again on a blocked punt by Matt Anderson, who
returned his own block for a touchdown. The Lancers
had a commanding lead entering halftime, with the
scoreboard reading 48-6, Parker.

With the game well in hand, the back-ups slowly
started to enter the game starting the second half.
The depth of the Lancers showed in the second half
because Ballenas was still held to only six points,
while the Lancer offense continued to roll down the field.
The Lancers scored on 9 of 10 drives during this
contest for 62 points. Ian Yoder, despite the
downpour was 8-9 on extra points. Considering Parker’s home field
is turf and located in pleasant San Diego, that is an amazing stat.
Sophomore Matt Zubyk got the day off from his punting
duties as the only drive in which the Lancers did not score
ended with a fumble. Head Coach John Morrison must be
proud of his team’s performance as his Lancers were a
truck that Ballenas couldn’t stall. Hopefully this
game plants seeds that will bloom into a heated
contest between these two teams next year when
Ballenas visits San Diego.