Lake City Football Team

For the first time in the history of this weekly honor, a team, not an individual, is honored.

Oh, there were certainly some outstanding individual efforts as Lake City finally recorded its first football victory in school history, a 15-6 win over Lakeland. But Timberwolves coach Van Troxel couldn’t single out one player above the whole.

Some of the highlights were:

When LC kicked off to open the second half trailing 6-0, T-Wolf Greg Sutich forced a fumble and Ray Orsua recovered it to set up LC’s first touchdown.

Then there was the goal-line stand LC made midway through the third quarter. The momentum actually sparked what would prove to be the game-winning drive.

Facing fourth-and-one from its 41-yard line, LC had to make a decision. “We had to go for it because we had to show confidence in what our defense had just done - the goal-line stand,” Troxel said.

The T-Wolves just wanted a first down to extend their possession. What they got was a 59-yard scoring jaunt by junior running back Brian Ross. Running back Richard Harms and wide receiver Ben Scharenberg sprung Ross with super blocks.

“It was complete pandemonium after the game,” Scharenberg said.

“It’ll be just as special 20 years from now as it was Friday,” Troxel added.

LC players returned to practice Monday intent on building on their new-found success.

“How sweet was the win? Sweet is an understatement,” Sutich, a steady defensive end, said.

Sutich, a senior, didn’t play last year because of a severe case of Lyme disease. Medication has helped Sutich overcome the common side effects: severe achy joints, extreme fatigue and migraine headaches.

Last Friday made it all worth while.

“There’s no words to explain it,” Sutich said.

Said Ross: “It’s a new beginning for the Lake City Timberwolves. I can’t wait for next year. There’s a new enthusiasm out here and everybody has turned it up 110 percent this week.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo