Sunday,
September 14, 2014
By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer
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Jessey Asare finished with 152 yards on 13 carries and 239 yards of total offense for Lodi, which opened its season with 29-12 win over Hawthorne. |
LODI - After squandering a pair of scoring opportunities early, Lodi was looking at a possible halftime deficit with Hawthorne driving deep in its territory late in the second quarter. It was the first of many gut check moments the Rams will face this season and their response will determine whether they will reach their goals of winning league and state titles.
These are the types of battles they need to win over and over again and, thanks in large part to the defensive line and a breakout game from Jessey Asare, Lodi passed its first test of the season with flying colors.
Bryan Roth and Mohammed Zaal came up with a big stuff on a fourth-and-goal from inside the 1. Four plays later, Asare turned a busted play into an 87-yard touchdown catch and run to open the scoring. He showed off his blinding speed again in the third quarter with a long TD run as Lodi opened its season with a 29-12 triumph over Hawthorne on Saturday at Lodi High School.
“We came out with some jitters and a little slower than we’re used to, but we adjusted to the speed of the game,” said Roth. “We got a big stop before the half and Jesse made a huge play to get us going. I don’t think we played as well as we could have, but we got a win and we’ll keep working to improve for a big game next week.”
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JJ Occhipinti (25) made this tackle and also scored a TD for Hawthorne. |
The Rams looked like they were going to score late in the first quarter when David Acevedo caught a swing pass and was headed for the pilon. Hawthorne’s Ted Wagner was able to poke the ball away from behind, however, and it went through the back of the end zone for a touchback. On the Rams’ next drive, they marched down to the Hawthorne six-yard line before the drive stalled with Ryshawn Byfield making the big play on a quarterback pressure on fourth-and-goal to force an errant throw.
The Bears then embarked on a long drive of their own. Sophomore quarterback Luke Sousa hit fellow classmate Chris Wojtecki for a 36-yard play on a third-and-14 to cross midfield. They moved the ball to within two feet of the the end zone and had a fourth-and-goal. Although there was another half yet to play, it was a crisis moment for the Rams with two minutes to play in the half. Byfield went up the middle, only to be met at the goal line by the 6-foot-4, 300-pound. Roth and Zaal, an undersized defensive tackle who was all over the field making plays all game to keep the game scoreless.
On second down from inside the one, Asare made an underrated play when he was met in the backfield which also happened to be in the end zone. He stretched the ball over the goal line to avoid a safety. Senior quarterback John Calabrese followed by hitting Aaron Bell along the sideline for a first-down. On the next play, Calabrese was about to get sacked but was able to wiggle his way out of it and shovel a pass to Asare. The senior speedster did the rest by making a cut and hitting a seam going 87 yards untouched to paydirt with 1:02 left in the half. Calabrese then faked the hold for the PAT and hit Acevedo for a two-point conversion that gave the Rams an 8-0 halftime lead.
“It was one of those plays that you just react and things seem to work out,” said Asare. “I saw my quarterback in trouble and came back to the ball where he could pitch it to me. Once I turned I was just looking for one block. I got that block and then I just saw an open field in front of me.”
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Guillerme Richel (66) and the Lodi defense kept constant pressure on Hawthorne QB Luke Sousa. |
Asare picked up in the second half where he left off. He took a handoff, made a cut to his left and got the corner in going untouched up the sideline for a 5-yard TD run on the third play of the third quarter to make it 15-0.
There were questions coming into the game on how Calabrese would handle the pressure under center as a first-time starter. He played more like a four-year starter than a first-year starter. On a third-and-25 from their own 49, Calabrese stepped up in the pocket to avoid the pressure on both sides and hit Acevedo on a deep crossing route. Acevedo broke a tackle and outraced the Bears’ defense for a 51-yard score that essentially put the game away.
“We didn’t wrap up well enough or make enough big plays to get a rhythm going on both sides of the ball,” said Hawthorne head coach John Passero. “That 15-point swing before the half and then them scoring so early in third quarter deflated us a little bit. I thought we did some good things and there is room for growth. But we clearly have alot to work on because the glaring mistakes we had today ended up either costing us points or allowing
them to score.”
Asare finished with 152 yards on 13 carries and 239 yards of total offense for Lodi (1-0). Calabrese completed 8 of 15 passes for 236 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Zaal led the way defensively with nine tackles, a sack, and the big goal-line stuff.
Sousa was 9-of-20 for 117 yards to go with a rushing touchdown for Hawthorne (0-1). JJ Occhipinti also found the end zone on the ground and Mike Deitrich had a solid all-around game defensively with eight tackles, a sack, an interception, and a pass defensed.
Lodi will now turn its attention towards a showdown with neighboring rival Garfield on the road next
Friday night. It is a game that will have both league and state tournament implications, plus the usual bragging rights that go with any rivalry.
“We always want to beat Garfield and they always want to beat us in any sport,” said Asare. “Garfield is a really good team and they are our biggest rival. We still have alot of work ahead of us, but we’re really excited to win today and get back on the field to try to do it again next week.”
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