Unbeaten Deer Lakes continues historic start with comeback victory over Highlands
By:
Friday, September 27, 2024 | 10:52 PM
Deer Lakes’ Anthony Smith celebrates after causing a fumble that setup the winning touchdown by Zier Williams against Highlands in the fourth quarter Friday.
Deer Lakes’ Zach Grant beats Highlands’ Jahmar Wright for a third-quarter touchdown Friday.
Deer Lakes running back Zier Williams avoids Highlands’ Darai Carter on Friday.
Deer Lakes’ Dom Sciubba pulls in a pass intended for Highlands’ Jahmar Wright for an interception to end the game Friday.
Deer Lakes’ Luca Mangieri dives over Highlands’ Darai Carter on Friday.
Deer Lakes’ Jake Fleischer leaps over Highlands’ Darai Carter on Friday.
Deer Lakes’ Noah Shrine kicks the winning extra point in the fourth quarter against Highlands on Friday.
Highlands’ Darai Carter pulls in a touchdown pass against Deer Lakes on Friday.
Deer Lakes’ Roman Smith takes down Highlands’ Jahmar Wright on the opening kickoff Friday.
Highlands’ Menage Lucas cuts back on Deer Lakes on Friday.
Deer Lakes’ Ryan Love defends on a pass intended for Highlands’ Aiden Burford on Friday.
Highlands’ Menage Lucas avoids Deer Lakes’ Nathaniel Moore on the way to a third-quarter touchdown Friday.
Highlands’ Jahmar Wright beats Deer Lakes’ Zach Grant for a second-quarter touchdown Friday.
Deer Lakes keeps making history.
This historic night, though, came from lessons of the past.
Trailing by 13 points at halftime may have been too much to overcome for a Lancers team five or so years ago, but on this night, there wasn’t a deer-in-the headlights look.
Instead, led by a pair of touchdowns by Zier Williams and a defense that forced a pair of turnovers, the Lancers rallied to beat Highlands, 27-26, in a Class 3A Allegheny 7 Conference game Friday night to improve to 6-0 for the first time in school history.
“This comes with a change in the culture of the program,” Lancers coach Tim Burk said about the comeback win. “I’ve said it countless times that this started three or four years ago. We would get scored on, and I’d tell them we were OK and they didn’t believe me. Now I don’t even have to do that. They just respond, and they know we’re never out of a game.”
It’s the first time the Lancers (6-0, 3-0) have beaten the Golden Rams (2-3, 1-2) in school history.
Williams scored on runs of 2 and 3 yards in the fourth quarter, the latter being the go-ahead score.
The Lancers forced a fumble on defense later in the third quarter, which was recovered by Evan Moore. Dom Sciubba made a crucial tackle on a fourth-and-1 play in the fourth quarter that turned the ball over on downs and capped the night with an interception in the final minute.
“It’s just a will and a want,” Williams said about the comeback. “Everyone that’s here right now wants to be here and wants to win. We knew we could come back. We just played as a team, and that’s what we need to do.”
The comeback started after a tough second quarter in which the Lancers did not achieve a first down.
They took the opening possession of the second half and marched right down the field.
Jake Fleischer hit Zach Grant on a 28-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 20-13.
Highlands quarterback Menage Lucas gave an immediate response, scoring on a 35-yard run, but the extra point was blocked, which turned out to be a crucial moment.
Noah Shurina’s extra point on Williams’ final touchdown turned out to be the difference.
“Those (blocked kicks) didn’t seem huge at the time, but they were,” Burk said. “Every little thing is important. These guys are doing it. They just keep going, and I love them. They’re the absolute best.
Lucas had a huge night for the Golden Rams, passing for 175 yards and three touchdowns, which came on three consecutive throws.
He reared back and threw a 53-yard strike that Darai Carter caught in stride and went untouched into the end zone.
After a three-and-out by Deer Lakes, Lucas again uncorked a long pass to a wide-open Jahmar Wright for a 56-yard touchdown.
A bad snap on a punt attempt set up Highlands at the Deer Lakes 27 for the next drive.
They quickly took advantage of the good field position.
Lucas threw a pass to Montrell Johnson, who leaped to catch it and then turned and ran into the end zone as defenders fell around him for a 27-yard touchdown.
That gave the Golden Rams a 20-7 lead going into halftime.
Jerin Steele is a freelance writer
Tags: Deer Lakes, Highlands
More High School Football
• PIAA must pay Aliquippa’s legal fees from Commonwealth Court appeal, judge says• Franklin Regional’s Bresnahan gets offer from Robert Morris
• 2024 TribLive HSSN Terrific 25 Football All-Stars
• After leading Latrobe’s football resurgence, coach Ron Prady steps down
• Trib HSSN 2024 WPIAL Football Player of the Year: Fort Cherry’s Matt Sieg
