LAYTON -- It's been a long time coming for Layton Christian, which is what made Friday's outcome especially sweet.
In their eighth football campaign, after posting a 0-3 postseason record and getting outscored 116-0, the Eagles finally recorded their first playoff victory with a rousing come-from-behind win over Altamont, 28-21.
"It doesn't get any bigger than winning a playoff game for the first time on campus," LCA coach Will Hawes said. "These guys had some ups and downs but they fought. That's all I can ask of them, to keep fighting for four quarters."
Senior Brandon Faison turned in a fantastic performance and showcased what was to come on the opening play from scrimmage with a 71-yard scoring run that was negated due to a penalty.
The all-purpose back and safety finished with 118 yards rushing on 10 carries and had three of the four Eagle touchdowns, including the game-winner following his fumble that allowed the Longhorns to tie the game.
"This is a real big win," Faison said. "I moved here last year from Maryland and I wanted to get it last year so bad, but this year we succeeded.
"I put it on the ground last time at Altamount at their house (in a 41-24 victory on Oct. 7) and I had to do the same thing and come back. I knew the game was real big this time so I couldn't let it hold me back. I had to get another (touchdown)."
Altamont built a 13-0 second period lead behind a methodical ground game. The Longhorns converted an interception into six points when Dathan Panas rumbled in from 13 yards out. Then following an Eagle punt, Altamont drove 71 yards in 16 plays while chewing up nearly eight minutes to put LCA in a hole.
With 17 seconds to play in the half, the Eagles narrowed the gap with a 57-yard drive, keyed by a 33-yard Jacques Carter run and capped by Faison's 17-yard cutback scamper to make it 13-6.
"Anytime you turn the ball over and have a lot of penalties, it's not going to be good for anybody so we just told them at halftime if you want to be out here Monday with a uniform on let's get going and play at our level," Hawes said.
The Eagles tied it up on their first possession of the third quarter when Kyle Yockey connected with Faison streaking down the left sideline for a 33-yard score. After forcing a fumble, LCA took its first lead when Carter punched it in from a yard out to make it 21-13.
Faison's fumble late in the third quarter, gave the Longhorns a short field and they capitalized as Kyle Foy found the end zone from two yards out. The ensuing two-point conversion knotted the score at 21-all. Two weeks after running for a state record 451 yards on 48 carries against Milford, the Eagles held the junior back to 62 yards on 26 attempts.
With seven minutes to play, the Eagles answered Altamont with the deciding touchdown. Facing second-and-nine from the Longhorn 47, Faison took a pitch and scampered around the right side for a score. The LCA defense then turned back Altamont on its final two possessions to seal the win.
Comments