KANSAS - The field was awash of green and brown and celebration.
Except for a little yellow speck.
And for the second time in the fourth quarter, Lakota saw a touchdown taken off the board because of a penalty.
It left the goose egg on the scoreboard as Seneca East picked up its third shutout of the season, 27-0, on Friday night at Lakota Stadium.
"On a night like this, ball security is huge. We came out and took care of the football. I thought we were opportunistic," Seneca East coach Ed Phillips said. "The name of the game was defense and our defense played outstanding. They have some playmakers on offense and all night long, our defense stood up and we got another shutout."
The Tigers held Lakota to 160 yards of total offense. Their defense sealed the game late in the fourth when Kevin Moore picked off Tiger Jaso and returned it 98 yards for the final score of the night with a minute and a half to go in the game.
Fact Box
Seneca East 27, Lakota 0
Seneca East01377 - 27
Lakota0000 - 0
Second Quarter
SE - Adam Bauman 5 pass from Ethan Caudill (Isaac Phillips kick), 6:31.
SE - Jared Walker 2 run (kick failed), 2:43.
Third Quarter
SE - Bauman 2 run (Phillips kick), 9:54
Fourth Quarter
SE - Kevin Moore 98 interception run (Phillips kick), 1:27
SEL
First Downs96
Rushes-yards74148
Passing yards9612
Comp-att-int9-14-11-7-1
Punts-ave.5-367-30.1
Fumbles-lost1-04-1
Penalties-yards5-467-65
Individual Statistics
RUSHING: Seneca East - Caudill 9-5; Bauman 8-31; Walker 8-22; Jordan Phillips 5-2; Mason McWilliams 1-14. Lakota - Tiger Jaso 16-75; Colin Timmons 9-(minus 23); Albert Guerra 8-25; Ed Racheter 6-43; Kody Brewer 5-28.
PASSING: Seneca East - Caudill 9-14-96-1. Lakota - Timmons 1-6-12-1; Jaso 0-1-0-1
RECEIVING: Seneca East - McWilliams 2-46; Adam Hall 2-17; Moore 2-16; Hunter Saylors 1-9; Bauman 1-5; J. Phillips 1-3. Lakota - Jack Raymond 1-12.
It was the final frustration for Jaso in the final quarter.
With about six minutes left, Jaso received a punt at the Seneca East 48 and raced down the home sideline and into the end zone. But it was called back on a block in the back call. The Raiders (2-7, 0-6 Midland League) couldn't do anything on that possession and had to punt it away.
After a three-and-out, Seneca East (7-2, 4-2 MAL) booted it back to Lakota and the Raiders started its drive on their own 32. On the first play from scrimmage, Jaso juked and jived his way down the field and into the end zone. But a holding call at the Seneca East 34 brought the Raiders back out on offense, and three plays later, Jaso threw the interception on a halfback pass, ending the Lakota threat.
"You wish you could have gotten one and just push it," Lakota coach Dave Vodika said. "Tiger Jaso, if you can get him loose, is just super. It was disheartening. As we tell the kids, we ought to feel bad. They are missed opportunities."
After a scoreless first quarter, Seneca East got on the board midway through the second quarter with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Ethan Caudill to Adam Bauman.
Less than four minutes later, Seneca East took advantage of a fumble deep in Lakota territory and turned it into six points, with Jared Walker plunging in from two yards out.
Bauman got on the board in Seneca East's opening drive of the third quarter, scoring on a 2-yard run to make it 20-0 with 9:54 to go in the third quarter.
Jaso had 75 yards rushing to lead the Lakota attack.
Seneca East was paced by Caudill's 96 yards passing as Lakota bottled up the Seneca East attack, holding them to 170 yards on the night.
"Our guys are disappointed. I thought we played hard. We just shot ourselves in the foot. They're a pretty nice ball club," Vodika said. "We were competitive at least. There's no substitute for experience and we have some inexperienced guys, like seven of them on defense. That hurts us. I feel bad for the seniors. They're a great group of kids."
Both coaches admitted their eyes are on next week already. Lakota travels to North Baltimore for the right to climb out of the MAL cellar as both teams lack a win in the league.
"It's been a while since we've tasted victory. North Baltimore, (Dino Woodruff) does a nice job down there and we have to get ready for that," Vodika said. "We need to just keep pressing and finish the year with a win. That's what I hope we can do."
Seneca East hosts Carey in a game that stands to push one team into the playoffs and leave the other outside looking in.
"They are high school kids and they know what's coming. I walked into the locker room there and listened to them afterwards and I can see they are pretty hyped up for next week," Phillips said. "It's going to be a good time. We're excited about."
