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A few minutes into the first quarter of Thursday night's contest with Tuscarora High, Linganore linebacker Zach Zwinak tracked down and bludgeoned Titans' quarterback Jakarie Jackson on his own sideline.
Midway through the second quarter Zwinak, this time as a ball carrier, threw off a host of would-be tacklers on a 24-yard touchdown run. On both plays, the robust 6 foot 2, 238-pound Zwinak overmatched his opponent, which reflected his team's 35-7 rout of the visiting Titans.
"Our defense and our offense both set the tone," Zwinak said. "There was no individual play, it was a team effort."
The Lancers scored on their first four offensive drives. Their first punt didn't occur until nearly four minutes after the half.
Tuscarora didn't do itself any favors incurring a pair of defensive penalties for 20 yards before Linganore took an offensive snap. Lancers' quarterback Ricky Conner capped off an 80-yard, six-play, four and a half minute drive from two yards out for the night's initial score. He also helped out his own cause at defensive back with a pair of first half interceptions.
"That [scoring first] was big for us," Lancers' head coach Rick Conner said. "It got the momentum going our way. It was good for our guys to come out and challenge them."
Zwinak's statement hit forced a punt on the Titans' ensuing possession. Ten plays and 80 yards later, Kevin Myers gave the Lancers a two-touchdown advantage on a four-yard dash.
Adding a pair of Zwinak (14 carries, 155 yards) scores, Linganore lead 28-0 at intermission. Bobby Joe Herald rounded out the Lancers' scoring, scooping up a stripped loose ball by Canaan Metz and scooting 36 yards for the final score midway through the third quarter.
Place kicker Alex Eckart activated a running clock, which begins at a 35-point differential, with the extra point.
The Titans did not log a completion until halfway through the third quarter. Quarterbacks Jackson and Josh Marshall, who was making his first appearance since week two, combined for 5-of-14 passing for 72 yards, a touchdown and four turnovers (two interceptions, two fumbles).
"They're a good football team," Tuscarora head coach Shawn Carey said. "They beat us tonight. No excuses tonight, they just best us."
Coach Conner refused to kick to Dominic Clarke, squibbing the ball all evening. He said there was no way he was going to allow a single play to score.
As the clock ticked away unhindered in the fourth, Tuscarora's defense held on forth-and-one on their own goal line. Marching 99 yards on 14 plays, Marshall found Fabian Gonzalez in the end zone for a 33-yard tally with approximately a minute remaining.
Linganore now stands alone atop the Monocacy Valley Athletic League Chesapeake Conference. The Lancers are 7-0 overall and 3-0 within the conference. Tuscarora falls to 5-2 and 2-1 within the Chesapeake.
