Millikan's sizzling 35-34 overtime win over Poly a week ago left behind a somewhat predictable result: Extreme happiness for the Rams and then a letdown.
Against a Lakewood team that plays within itself and has ample weapons, the Rams were unable to get untracked Friday night. Alden Darby is starting to show the wear and tear of doing everything for the Rams outside of lining the field before the game. He had a hard time finding lanes versus the Lancers and open targets downfield. Millikan had minus one yard net in the first half and 37 yards after three, and most of the yardage in the fourth quarter came on the ground, by Brian Malone, while Lakewood played prevent.
Lakewood, meanwhile, showed why they're a contender for the Pac-5 title. Thadd McNeal's team has 23 played that gained eight or more yards, 15 of them for 11 yards or more. That doesn't include ample return yardage, either.
Lakewood (5-0 in league) could clinch the Moore League title outright while relaxing next Friday. They have a bye, and a Wilson (3-1) is at Jordan, which beat Compton Friday with the return of Princeton Fuimaono to the Panthers lineup.
The coaches aren't gonna be relaxing, in my view. I would think they would be doing some scouting work on potential opponents for the business end of the season. One goes out to look at Fountain Valley vs. Edison, maybe two; another goes to South OC to look at Mission Viejo vs. San Clemente; another will drive up to Sherman Oaks to see the Notre Dame Knights clash with Loyola; aother will drive to Orange to see Servite clash with Lutheran, and so on.
Lakewood was anything but "poised", the game was one of the worst displays of fan sportsmanship I have ever seen, including the behavior of the adults!! No complaints about their players though, great game for them.