Lewiston topples LC
LEWISTON – For most seniors, Senior Night is the last time they play at home. It’s a chance to for seniors and their parents to be recognized for four years of hard work and sacrifice.
Senior Night for the Lewiston Bengals meant something else. A win over Lake City meant another chance to play at home and the 5A Inland Empire League Championship.
Lewiston, led by its senior duo of Tom Kerr and P.J. Munoz, beat Lake City 26-14 Friday night to secure both the championship and home playoff game.
“We just got done what we had to,” Munoz said.
Munoz got the job done with six catches for 98 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Kerr went 11 of 19 for 160 yards and four touchdowns and one interception.
Lake City quarterback Zach Clanton tried to take the game into his own hands, completing 16 of 31 passes for 82 yards and running 20 times for 88 yards. He was intercepted once and several of his passes were knocked down or dropped by defenders.
Lake City scored first on a 9-yard pass from Clanton to wide receiver Chris Hanley.
Lewiston answered back with three unanswered touchdowns to take a 20-7 lead into halftime.
Kerr and Munoz hooked up three times in the half for a score, including a 50-yard touchdown play.
After halftime, Lake City moved the ball with ease against Lewiston’s defense and took nearly six minutes off the clock before B.J. Palmer scored on a 5-yard run to get within a score of the Bengals but would never get closer.
At the end of the third quarter, Lake City had the ball again and was forced to punt.
Lewiston’s Ryan Young returned the punt to the 2-yard line with 1 second left in the third quarter.
Lewiston scored by on a touchdown pass from Kerr to Matt Blankenship.
Lake City coach Van Troxel had an easy explanation for the team’s loss.
“This game isn’t that complicated. The team that blocks and tackles the best is going to win,” he said. “Lewiston blocked and tackled better than we did. They disserved to win.”
Lewiston’s win means Lewiston and Lake City advance to play in state playoffs.
The two teams meet again Friday night in Lewiston.