Deer Lakes defense comes up strong against Keystone Oaks

By: Ed Troup
Friday, August 22, 2025 | 10:15 PM

Deer Lakes used an old-fashioned football game plan Friday night at Dormont Stadium with a hard-nosed shutdown defense and a strong running game that allowed them to control the clock and avoid turning the football over in a 23-7 Week Zero nonconference win at Keystone Oaks.

“It’s tough to play that style of football,” Deer Lakes coach Tim Burk said. “But our kids excelled at it, and they love that style of football.”

After punting on their opening possession, the Lancers (1-0) scored their first points of the 2025 season with their defense as OLB Jack Gutherie intercepted Keystone Oaks (0-1) quarterback Owen Gearhart on their second offensive drive and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown with 6:36 left in the opening quarter.

The Lancers put together a strong two-minute offensive drive before halftime with a good mix of running backs Ryan Love and Roman Smith moving the ball inside the Keystone Oaks 10-yard line. Deer Lakes QB Dante Mangieri found Evan Moore in the back of the end zone on a 6-yard touchdown pass, capping a 13-play, 65-yard scoring drive to end the first half. Deer Lakes led 14-0 at halftime.

“Our defense, they play fast, they play physical,” Burk said. “These kids would run through a wall for us. All the credit goes to our kids.”

#HSSN Highlights: Deer Lakes grinded out a 23-7 Week 0 win over Keystone Oaks Friday night at Dormont Stadium. pic.twitter.com/UhSv58pVh5

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The Lancers took the second-half kickoff and again moved the ball with a strong running game before stalling in Golden Eagles territory. They settled for a 30-yard field goal, with kicker Connor Moore giving Deer Lakes a 17-0 lead with 7:32 left in the third quarter.

The Deer Lakes defense kept pushing the Golden Eagles offense back. After multiple sacks and penalties, Keystone Oaks’ offense punted in their own end zone. The Lancers could not convert on their next offensive drive, instead punting the football back to Keystone Oaks. But a muffed punt set up the Deer Lakes offense with excellent field position on the Golden Eagles’ 15-yard line.

Keystone Oaks got a spark three plays later with an interception in the end zone by Gearhart. The Lancers’ defense continued to flex its muscles, stopping the Golden Eagles at the start of the fourth quarter on a fourth-and-5 play and taking over at the 35-yard line.

Deer Lakes was looking to put the game away, but the Golden Eagles defense stayed strong, turning the Lancers away in their own territory with 9:52 remaining in the fourth quarter and keeping the score 17-0.

On the next drive, Keystone Oaks finally broke through, scoring their first points of the season on a 62-yard touchdown pass from Gearhart to Sean O’Brien, making the score 17-7 with 8:28 left in the game. The Golden Eagles subsequently recovered an on-side kick by Wesley Palmer and had momentum at midfield.

But the Lancers’ defense arrived again, and again it was OLB Gutherie with the big play, recovering a fumble and giving Deer Lakes the ball with 7:22 remaining.

The Lancers put the game away after that, with Ryan Love scoring on a 4-yard touchdown run with just 17 seconds left, giving Deer Lakes the 23-7 win. Love led all offensive players with 24 carries, 108 yards and a touchdown.

“Keystone Oaks is a tough team. Hats off to them. They were a gritty group tonight,” Burk said. “We have a lot of young kids who have not had a bunch of game experience. We told them to just make sure you finish on every play, and they did it.”

Deer Lakes will host South Park next week, while Keystone Oaks will host Quaker Valley in another home game at Dormont Stadium.

Tags: Deer Lakes, Keystone Oaks