LAPEL–It didn’t take long Friday for the wheels to come off for the Lapel football team.
According to coach Tim Miller, the wheels were never attached.
The Bulldogs committed six first half turnovers in falling behind 38-0 at halftime before falling to Shenandoah 53-20 to spoil Lapel’s homecoming.
With the loss, the Bulldogs fell to 2-2 on the season while the Raiders improved to 3-1.
Shenandoah took the opening kickoff and drove quickly down the field, taking just six plays and scoring on an 11-yard touchdown run by Joe Huff barely three minutes into the game. The Raiders added the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.
Josiah Hudson fumbled the ball away on Lapel’s second play from scrimmage and, although the Bulldog defense forced a Shenandoah punt, it was a harbinger of things to come.
Three plays into the next Lapel possession, Dawson Phillips coughed it up to the Raiders deep in Bulldog territory.
This time, Shenandoah cashed in on a five-yard run by Dallas Pugsley, and the rout was on.
“The bottom line, we laid an egg on offense and we laid an egg on defense,” Miller said. “I have one job; get this team ready to play football, and we weren’t ready to play. That’s on me, there’s no one else to blame.”
The Lapel turnover woes were not limited to the running game. Three plays later, Levi Frazier was intercepted near midfield. The Raiders converted on the third play of their possession on a 42-yard pass play from Payton Starks to Jordan Starks, giving Shenandoah a 22-0 advantage.
Following an exchange of punts, Frazier was picked off again. This time, Pugsley took the interception back 75 yards for another Raider score and a 30-0 lead.
Backup quarterback Cole Alexander took the reins for two possessions, but also had problems. He was intercepted late in the half, leading to a one-yard TD run by Huff with 30 seconds remaining.
Frazier returned, but his bid for a touchdown on the half’s final play was picked off at the goal line.
The Bulldogs showed signs of life after the break.
Lapel scored on the opening possession of the third quarter on a two-yard run by Frazier. On Shenandoah’s next series, Preston Scott forced a fumble with a sack, which was recovered by Justus Kalley.
Frazier converted the Raider turnover into points just four plays later on an eight-yard pass to Connor Gill, pulling the Bulldogs to within 38-14.
But any momentum Lapel had mustered quickly faded as Gabe Young returned the ensuing kickoff 86 yards for a Shenandoah touchdown and a 46-14 lead.
“I know our kids are embarrassed tonight,” Miller said. “I’m not embarrassed of our kids, I’m embarrassed that I didn’t have our kids prepared tonight.”
Lapel will try to put this game behind them and get ready for next week’s game at Heritage Christian.
“We don’t play a weak schedule, that’s for sure,” Miller said. “We just have to pick up the pieces and get back to practice.”