Schools

Lambert Crushes Northview Friday Night

The Longhorns successfully defeat the Northview Titans 55-27 in high school football action.

The stars were out under the stadium lights this Friday night when the Northview Titans hosted the Lambert Longhorns in a game of two teams known for the ground and pound run game. Everyone knew to watch for Lambert’s diverse quarterback Brock Maxwell and Northview’s explosive Terrence Upshaw, and neither disappointed with nearly 500 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns between them. Lambert’s workhorse tailback Daniel Myers also put on a show with nearly one 150 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.

The outcome of the game was foreshadowed well by the opening kickoff, a squib, returned by Lambert to their opponent’s 45-yard line to start the game. Lambert seemed to struggle early with a run for negative yardage and a holding call bringing them back to their own 48. However, all concerns faded when Maxwell found his tight end Chris Laye for a 52-yard touchdown toss on third down. The Titans did all but answer boldly to Lambert’s opening drive by going three and out. Lambert again orchestrates a touchdown drive highlighted by Brock Maxwell posting a 28-yard run, and throwing to wing back Jake Stanford for a 16-yard touchdown pass. Maxwell follows up on the stellar throw by booming the kickoff into the end zone for a touchback, and taking all momentum from the Titans. Though the score was 14-0, running back Terrence Upshaw made a statement of his own by slicing through the Longhorn defense for an 80-yard touchdown run. To follow up, the other back, Daniel Myers starts the offensive possession with a 34 yard run. Their drive was going well until a holding call and a 40 yard touchdown pass that would’ve been, if not dropped. On third down, Maxwell once again found number 47 for a 38-yard pass that set up Daniel Myers’ five-yard touchdown run. To follow up the touchdown, the Longhorn defense matched their offense’s success by forcing the Titans to another three and out.

After the punt, Lambert practically repeats their previous possession by another Maxwell to Laye 35 yard pass that ends in a two-yard touchdown run by Myers. Northview is then forced to start on their three after a muffed kickoff return and a block in the back penalty. Upshaw appeared to carry the offense once again by coming close to the first, yet not close enough forcing the Titans to punt again to end the first quarter. The Longhorns return the punt and again move the ball down the field with ease through Myers’ and Maxwell’s feet, but are stopped just shy of the red zone where Ryan Karjala missed the 24 yard field goal. Frustration from the miss is matched by Northview’s frustration from fielding another three and out drive before punting to the Longhorns for another time. Lambert moves the ball with ease again, and is lifted by Daniel Myers’ 25-yard run on third and 15. However, Maxwell fails to connect with sophomore Jake Stanford on fourth down; who drops what was almost another touchdown pass for the head coach’s son.

Find out what's happening in Cummingwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Northview’s offensive issues continue with another three and out as the fans beg for another long distance burst from their senior star running back, but are forced to see the punter perform. The Titans troubles with getting the Longhorns offense off the field then continue as Maxwell finds senior receiver T.J. Russell for 20 yards to convert another third and very long, and set up Stanford to find the end zone again on a twelve yard touchdown run. Northview responds to their problems by resorting to the slants passing offense; yet once again find no success without Upshaw. When all hope seemed lost for the drive, the division one bound star takes off on another highlight reel worthy 67-yard touchdown run. Longhorn’s senior running back Jake Vazquez responds to the Upshaw run with a 50-yard sprint of his own to set up another Maxwell to Laye first down. The South Carolina commit then finds Russell for a 19 yarder to give Karjala the two-yard field goal as the half ends.

The second half began with a lopsided score, but still the need to see Upshaw take one more to the house. However, the void is left unfilled as the Titans add another tally in the three and out column. Northview’s fans are given at least something to cheer for as their Titans hold the Longhorns on fourth down in the red zone. The Titans’ star carries the team again with runs of 30 yards and 15 before fumbling on third down to bring out the punter. This punt was different than the countless others Nick MacLeod had done, as the returner fumbled and recovered by Nathan Phillips to give the Titans life again. That life was short lived as Titans quarterback DJ Pearson is sacked for a 16 yards to send MacLeod right back out.

Find out what's happening in Cummingwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Lambert puts up another touchdown drive from Myers’ 47-yard run and a Chandler Register to TJ Russell 21 yard touchdown pass. Northview finally puts together a touchdown drive assisted by two Longhorn penalties on the same play. Titans quarterback DJ Pearson then tucks it and runs for a seven-yard touchdown, the first score of the night excluding Terrence Upshaw. Lambert answers the touchdown by driving down the field and chewing much of the remaining game clock, ending in a 13-yard field goal by Ryan Karjala.

As the game was winding down, Terrence Upshaw made one more bold play to further to impress the scouts in the stands by dashing for a roughly 60 yard touchdown. The end result was a Longhorn blowout of 55-27, which Lambert head coach Sid Maxwell attributed to their young team’s success to playing “6A opponents and every year playoff teams” in Etowah and Roswell.

Coach Sid Maxwell also touched on Upshaw’s 250 plus rushing yards and three touchdowns by saying, “Did we contain (Terrence)? He’s a great back that has a way of making things look ugly when you miss.”

His performance obviously being the only thing Titans fans want to remember when thinking of the victorious Lambert Longhorns.

Editor's Note: Article submitted by the Lambert Touchdown Club


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here