LAKEVILLE - After having success running the football for the first two weeks of the season, LaVille has utilized the passing game to keep the defense honest. In week three, Lancer head football coach Jeff Kaiser and his staff found themselves without a majority of the rushing touchdowns. Without its number one back, who went down late in the game a week ago. Kaiser asked for the next man to step in and fill the gap. You see, junior Cody Allen, who averaged 155 yards rushing per game, was unable to play Friday for the Lancer Football team following an injury against Triton the week prior. Against Pioneer, not only did the Lancer offense respond in the running game, but LaVille quarterback Lucas Plummer found some rhythm in the passing game. Class 2A #8 LaVille used a balanced rushing attack and a solid passing game to pick up a 29-13 Hoosier North Athletic Conference victory over 1A #11 Pioneer.  With the win, the Lancers improved to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the HNAC.  Pioneer moved to 2-1 and 1-1. "Our team's preparation and focus going into this game was the best week we have had up to this point which is always a good thing," said Kaiser.  "Our guys know our motto as a team is "next man up" and that is not only in injury situations but everyday in battling for starting positions as well.  We all knew losing Cody is a setback and that we had two choices to make . . . either sit and use it as an excuse or get after and see who all wants to step up to fill the void.  Each member of our team chose to step up and make a difference." And step up they did! LaVille used the weaponry of a versatile quarterback, running game by committee, and found more of a passing game to maintain its stance near the top of the HNAC standings. Kaiser's club mixed a running game with the passing game, and made several adjustments as the game progressed and in the halftime locker room.  In the first quarter plus, the Panthers were able to move the ball against the LaVille defense. Rylahn Toloza and Micah Rans were elusive in running the football. "Traditionally against us, Pioneer plays clock management to keep control of the game," noted Kaiser.  "When we give up 7 yards on first down we play to their game plan which limits our offense being on the field." Toloza and Rans came in as the top rushers for PHS. Toloza started the season with two games of rushing over 100 yards each. Toloza ended up being the most effective against LHS, finishing with 136 yards on 23 carries, including a 45-yard touchdown run. After a scoreless first quarter, Plummer got LaVille on the board first, drilling a 36-yard field goal.A 45-yard touchdown by Toloza put the Panthers up 7-3 with just over a minute left before halftime. That's when Plummer and the Lancer offense went to work.They chiseled out a one-minute touchdown drive that highlighted the pitch and catch game between Plummer and receiver Michael Good.  Good took a short pass from the LaVille QB, took a couple steps and dove into the end zone with one second left on the clock.  Plummer added the point after and the Lancers took a 10-7 lead into the locker room. "At halftime we adjusted some blocking up front offensively,  adjusted some alignment defensively to help stop off tackle plays and challenged the guys with our conditioning level as we felt we were wearing them down," explained Kaiser.  "We needed to value each possession and the guys did just that in the second half.  We have had success against them throwing the ball in the past, and they run the same defensive schemes as they have before so we felt on film they would vacate areas and we needed to get into those areas by throwing the ball." The second half was more of Plummer to Good through the air and, Plummer and Jonathan Neese on the ground. Plummer scored on a 33-yard scamper, then Neese packed bags for a 6-yard TD romp, Neese iced the game scooting 4-yards to pay dirt.LHS finished the game with 159 yards on the ground and 153 via the air. "Balance on offense was a true focus point by the absence of Allen this week," said Kaiser. "So the guys knew we needed to be able to mix it up and keep Pioneer honest on D." Good hauled in a career-high nine catches for 131 yards and a TD. Plummer was 12-of-19 for 153 yards passing and carried the ball 13 times for 93 yards and a big 33-yard sprint to the end zone. "Michael Good showed us what we knew he had in him," Kaiser said of his 6' 3" tight end. "His size and strength present many issues for our opponents, and to go along with that he is very athletic as well.  He will continue to work and assure us he has more of those games in him moving forward." Plummer had a fine overall game, rushing for 93 yards and passing for 153 and a touchdown. "Lucas Plummer played his best game up to this point and got his legs going which created us to get some open looks in our passing game," Kaiser analyzed.  "Lucas is a dual threat QB and he was able to show us he still has that ability to   mix it up.  We look for  more of that out of him moving forward." On defense, Kaiser's crew stuffed the stat box, with seven different players picking up at least six tackles.  Brandon Nettrouer led the hit brigade with 10 tackles.  Collin Czarnecki and David Mitchell added eight hits each.  The Lancer defense also had five tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, and one interception "The difference in the game we felt was our physical play," said Kaiser.  "Being the better conditioned team and having multiple guys step up and contribute in areas of the game that were needed." As for Allen's return? "Cody Allen has passed all of his protocol testings with our Athletic Trainer Janelle Christenson, and will be available to play against Winamac," concluded Kaiser.  "We truly have the best in the business with her and the Beacon Team, and as a coach I am very fortunate to have them with us on a daily basis." LaVille will play host Winamac Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Pioneer takes on Caston in another HNAC contest. LAVILLE 29, PIONEER 13Points By QuarterPioneer 0 7 0 6 - 13 LaVille 0 10 13 6 - 29 Scoring SummaryLV - Lucas Plummer 36 FGP - Rylahn Toloza 45 run; Micah Rans kickLV - Michael Good 6 pass from Plummer; Plummer kickLV - Plummer 33 run; kick blockedLV - Jonathan Neese 6 run; Plummer kickP - Cayden Hill 13 pass from Rans; pass failedLV - Neese 4 run; kick failed                                  P             LVFirst Downs          16             15 Yards Rushing     204          159 Comp-Att-Int     4-6-1      12-19-1 Passing Yards     57                153    Fumbles-Lost      2-2            0-0 Penalties-Yards    7-50        4-25                    Punts-Avg               1-13        1-29