Lancers win turnover filled War by the Shore.

(St. Joseph) – Despite near perfect weather conditions, both teams combined to turn the ball over eight times as Lakeshore edged out St. Joe 14-6 at Dickinson Stadium in front of an overflowing crowd. 

The first turnover of the game came on Lakeshore’s second play on offense, when QB Joel Brawley fumbled the ball and it was recovered by the Bears Trevor Dilley.  

St. Joe would drive inside the 5 yard line before the drive stalled out.  Antonio Buhrfiend’s 23 yard field goal gave St. Joe a 3-0 lead less than 4 minutes into the game.

Lakeshore responded quickly to take the lead, as the Lancers drove 80 yards in 5 plays to take a 7-3 lead on a 31 yard touchdown pass from Joel Brawley to Connor Brawley. 

The Bears first turnover would set up Lakeshore’s next score.   Ryan Barlow threw an interception which was brought to the Bear 22 yard line.  Sean Branch’s 22 yard on the next play gave Lakeshore a 14-3 lead.  The Lancers two touchdowns came just 56 second apart.

The teams would continue to trade punts and interceptions to close out the first quarter.   The second quarter would start with the Bears attempting a 37 yard field goal by Buhrfiend, but missing.    Neither team turned it over the rest of the half.

In the middle of the third quarter, St. Joe picked off another pass by Brawley and started the drive inside the Lancer 10 yard line on a Derek Holowasko pick.

With the Bears at the Lakeshore 8, a run by Ethan Valdes brought it down to the 4, and the next play Valdes brought the ball to the two yard line, but had the ball punched out and Lakeshore recovered. 

Devin Frenchko would stop Lakeshore’s next drive with an interception, bringing the ball down to the 50 yard line.   St. Joe would drive down to the Lancers 14 yard line before stalling out and Buhrfiend kicked a 31 yard field goal to cut the lead to 14-6.

Lakeshore sealed the game away picking up a first down and was able to hold onto the ball long enough to give St. Joe 24 seconds with no time outs to go 79 yards.    The Bears final attempt was stopped and Lakeshore held on 14-6.  In total the Bears turned the ball over 3 times, while Lakeshore turning it over 5 times.  

In a game dominated by defense, the visitors outgained St. Joe by a margin of 219-166.  St. Joe falls to 3-1 and 1-1 in the SMAC West.   

St. Joe did get 103 yards rushing from Ryan Haynes, his fourth straight game with over 100 yards rushing.

The Bears try to regroup with a game at 3-1 Mattawan next Friday.