New Albany Eagles Soar After Defeating Lancaster 34-20 To Stay Undefeated
By: Zack Mothersbaugh
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LANCASTER, Ohio (WOUB) – Coming off their first win of the year, the Lancaster Golden Gales (1-2) look to get to .500 as they host the undefeated New Albany Eagles (3-0) in a tough inter-conference game.
Lancaster struggled to stop a New Albany offense that averages over 300 rushing yards per game. But in the end, it was the Eagles’ explosive plays that led to a 34-20 demise for the Lancaster Golden Gales.
To start off the game, Lancaster was locked in a hard fought first half with the Eagles. The first score of the game was a big 22-yard touchdown run by Christian Manville where he easily shrugged off a defender.
Both teams held strong for nearly a quarter after that. After multiple punts and turnovers, the Golden Gales were able to convert on a play they had tried a few times up to that point. After rolling a little to his right, quarterback Trace Van Gundy stopped and threw a strike down the left sideline to Nasir Robinson, who caught it in stride and flew down the field to finish off the 47-yard touchdown. Lancaster would struggle to stop the Eagles before halftime though, as New Albany drove all the way down the field, and quarterback Brock Kidwell punched it in from two yards out. This put New Albany up by a touchdown at the half, 14-7.
The second half was when it started to slip away for Lancaster as New Albany running back Jadyn Garnes took over with two huge touchdowns to dominate the third quarter scoring.
Down 20 points with just 12 minutes left in the game, Trace Van Gundy attempts to mount a comeback. Van Gundy would complete another 47-yard touchdown pass, this time to Brysten Poe. New Albany would go on to deflate those hopes for the Golden Gales as Eagles’ running back Christian Manville would answer that touchdown with his own with just under three minutes left in the game.
Unwilling to go down without a fight, Trace Van Gundy tossed his third touchdown about a minute later to Riley Poston. It was too little too late for Lancaster as they couldn’t erase the two-score deficit with only about a minute and a half remaining.
Lancaster was unable to find their stride on either side of the ball. The Golden Gales were forced out of their triple option offense, and Trace Van Gundy was forced to throw the ball 21 times. Van Gundy would end the game with 191 yards, three touchdowns, and two picks. However, 122 yards of those came on just three plays. Outside of those three big passes, Van Gundy was 6-18 for 69, no touchdowns, and two picks.
Even though they held the Eagles offense under their rushing average, Lancaster still allowed 297 rushing yards and 34 points to the Eagles. The main achilles heel for the Golden Gales was the big play. Lancaster allowed three 20-plus yard rushing touchdowns, and one of those was from 50 yards out. The Golden Gales also allowed a 59-yard catch and run from Jameson Rossler to set up another touchdown.
Lancaster will look to get back in the win column next week against Olentangy Berlin.