Balanced Lassiter attack outlasts Milton

If you read the stat sheet and saw that Milton rushed for 300 yards, held Lassiter’s high-octane spread offense to less than 150 yards passing and held the ball twice as long as the Trojans, you might think that the Eagles came away with the victory.

But you would be wrong. Lassiter (2-2) came up with big plays when it counted on defense and special teams and went over the 100-yard mark in rushing in a 35-28 win over a scrappy Milton (1-3) team.

The Eagles played keep away to perfection for most of the first half, using a diverse running game that threw a lot of looks and formations — from the pro-set to the pistol — at the Lassiter front seven. Speedy back Wesley Gaston provided the outside threat while Peyton Barber pounded inside. Treyvon Paulk provided a little of both.

Their running and the Milton offensive line limited Lassiter’s possessions and propelled the Eagles to a 15-8 lead with just over a minute left in the first half.

But Lassiter defensive tackle Cedric Stadom made a big stop on fourth-and-3 from the Trojans’ 37 yard line, giving Lassiter’s offense one more shot before halftime. They made it count.

Sophomore quarterback Eddie Printz led the Trojans with 63 yards in five plays, hitting Charlie Hegedus on a 35-yard post pattern on fourth-and-8 to tie the score with just 33 seconds to go.

After forcing a three-and-out on Milton’s first possession of the third quarter, Lassiter sophomore Willie Police returned the ensuing punt 48 yards to the Milton 15. After a running play for negative yardage, Printz hit Juwan Dickey with a scoring strike from 18 yards out to put the Trojans up for good.