Lakes Pulls Off Stunning 27-24 Overtime Victory Against Camas In Class 3A State Contest

Lakes juniors Levonte Littlejohn and Cedric Dozier have grown together. As underclassmen, they shared backseat roles the previous two years when the Lancers advanced to the Class 3A state semifinals.

Against the previously undefeated Papermakers (11-1 overall, 6-0 Class 3A Greater St. Helens League) in a state elimination quarterfinals contest at Doc Harris Stadium in Camas, the tandem shouldered the offense and combined for more than 400 yards rushing. Littlejohn rushed for a game-high 226 yards on 28 carries and scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime on a strong-side toss for a 27-24 victory.

"We knew this year coming in we'd have to shoulder most of the load with our running abilities and him (Dozier) with his throwing abilities and decision making," Littlejohn said who scored three TDs. "Last year I went (to state) and didn't play and this year I'm going to play."

Dozier rushed for 200 yards on 20 carries. Camas' defense never figured out how to stop both at the same time. When they contained Littlejohn, Dozier would force them to readjust with his shifty, speedy running ability.

The Papermakers guessed correctly on occasion but the odds favored the Lancers (11-1 overall, 5-0 South Puget Sound League 3A).

"You can't stop both of us," Dozier said. What (are) you going to do key in on one guy and then other guy break free and gone. Our (offensive) line and wide receivers blocked downfield and we were gone."

The Lancers trailed by a field goal in overtime and were penalized for a false start on the 1-yard line, putting them in a fourth down situation. Head coach Dave Miller opted to go for it on fourth down and risk losing the game.

"We felt like they overloaded the weak-side and not the strong side," Miller said. "They lined up exactly like we hoped and it was there."

The Papermakers had a balanced offensive approach, and it had the Lancers played catch-up the entire game. Camas junior quarterback Tony Gennaro scored on a goal-line sneak for an early 7-0 lead with 2 minutes, 43 seconds left in the first quarter. Lakes' fullback Artem Petryakov bulldozed his way in to tie it with 6:45 left in the first half.

Then Gennaro — who completed 16 passes for 145 yards and collected 61 yards on the ground — threw a 10-yard fade to junior wide receiver Jonathan Warner in the corner of the end zone for a 14-7 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the half. The Lancers scored in three plays with a 56-yard run by Dozier, capped by a 4-yard run by Littlejohn to even the game, 14-14.

The game would swayed back and forth in the second half.

Camas running back Addison Owen had a solid night rushing with 152 yards on 29 carries including a 1-yard TD to retake the lead 21-14 with 4:47 left in the third quarter. Lakes marched down the field and Littlejohn punched it in on a 2-yard score before the start of the final quarter, 21-21.

Both teams had failed to take the lead with a field goal. Camas kicker Roldan Alcobendas missed a 26-yard chip shot but with less than five seconds remaining, Lakes' kicker Bo Wittig missed a 29-yard boot, sending the game into overtime.

Camas started with the ball and converted a 36-yard field goal. Lakes could have done the same but chose to end the game with the offense on the field. Lakes senior offensive lineman Eddie Releford said they had to depend on the running game in the end.

"I'd rather just win it or lose it right there to end it," Releford said.

What Dozier didn't do through the air — he completed just one pass for eight yards — he made up for with his running ability and sheer instincts. On a number of key plays, he either pitched it to Littlejohn on an option or kept it. On defense, he intercepted a wobbly pass from Gennaro with 9:23 left in the game.

Miller said he knew it was going to be a dogfight, and he knew it was going to come down to heart.

"And our kids are all heart," Miller said. "They took a couple 8-counts here and there but they didn't stay down for the 10-count. They got up and kept battling, kept fighting and got the job done."

Lakes will face Bellevue in the 3A semi-final football matchup at 7 p.m. on Nov. 26 at the Tacoma Dome.