Football Falls To #2 North Judson; LaFave Returns Kick 78 Yards For TD
By Scot Shearer | Sep 4, 2024 2:05 PM
LAKEVILLE - Opportunities. Making the most of opportunities was the difference in the high school battle between Class 1A #2 North Judson-San Pierre and Class 1A #12 LaVille. The LaVille offense was limited on the ground against the NJSP defense, while the passing game checked in for over 100 yards in a 32-8 Bluejay victory at Lancer Field. "We definitely had some opportunities throughout the game to put us in a position to score and make this a different game early on," said LaVille coach Jeff Kaiser. "We shot ourselves in the foot on the 5 yard line that stalled a momentum drive after creating a turnover and allowing us good field position. Against good teams we must get in the end zone especially when we are on the 5 yard line." On the defensive side of the football, LHS forced three NJSP turnovers but was unable to cash in for any points. The lone LaVille score came on a 78-yard kickoff return to the house. As the line drive kick bounced at the LaVille 22 yard line, Xzavian LaFave had just come up from losing his footing. He scooped the ball up and made his way near the 30. As the Bluejays kickoff coverage tried to converge on LaFave, the 6-foot senior got a solid block by sophomore Konnor Amor that allowed LaFave to gain some daylight. LaFave split a pair of defenders at the 35 and kicked it into another gear. By the time he hit the 45, his closest defender was 5 yards away as LaFave cruised into the end zone for the touchdown. "Xzavian LaFave's Kick Off return was at a very important time in the game and allowed us to gain momentum back after allowing a NJ touchdown," Kaiser noted when asked about the special teams touchdown. "What I saw on that particular play was a Senior wanting to take control and not giving up." LaVille added a two-point conversion when quarterback Collin Czarnecki found Cody Allen on a short pass to narrow the gap to 24-8 in favor of NJSP.Both Wilcox and Benson finished with over 100 yards rushing each. Wilcox added three touchdowns for the winners, including the opening score of the game and a 43-yard TD run to close out the scoring. Czarnecki led the passing game, going 16 of 33 for 114 yards. Allen was his favorite target, completing eight passes to the senior running back for 49 yards. "I felt we played better as a team and did some things we weren't able to do in week 1," explained Kaiser. "Things we focused on through the week at practice transitioned to the game field on Friday night. Difference in that game was we did not capitalize on turnovers we forced. In order to beat a good team we must end drives with points, especially once we get in the red zone." Kaiser's club is 0-2 overall and will travel to Central Noble (0-2) on September 6. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET NORTH JUDSON 32, LAVILLE 8 At Lakeville Score By Quarter NJSP 8 16 24 32 LaVille 0 0 8 8 Scoring Summary NJ - Kole Wilcox 22 run; Wilcox run NJ - Wilcox 7 run; Jessiah McDaniel run NJ - McDaniel 1 run; Wilcox run LV - Xzavian LaFave 78 kickoff return; Cody Allen pass from Collin Czarnecki NJ - Wilcox 43 run; Wilcox run NJ LV First Downs 17 6 Rushing Yds 292 48 Comp-Att-Int. 6-9-1 15-28-0 Passing Yds 117 113 Penalties-Yds 8-49 4-25 Fumbles Lost 2 0