Rowlands steps up to lead Lions

Versatile senior scores 17 total points and rushes for 156 yards in blowout win news@theheraldnewspapers.com A different star seems to rise with each week for the 2-1 Lions of The King’s Academy. During a resounding 41-8 thumping of St. Andrews Friday at the private school’s Seymour campus, it was senior running back/kicker Gareth Rowlands’ turn to step into the spotlight for the Lions. Rowlands, a native of Wales, gained 158 yards on five carries and scored two of his team’s five touchdowns. On top of his offensive prowess, Rowlands swiped an interception on defense, and was 5-for-5 during the contest on extra-point attempts. The Lions offense rolled up 321 rushing yards on 42 attempts while dealing St. Andrews its third loss of the season. The King’s Academy’s head coach Larry Watson has witnessed each of his players impressively show up for practice every day and work to get better as a football team. Reluctant to single out one player, Watson credits the work ethic of his entire squad as the biggest factor in its improvement since dropping the first game of the year. Since losing to a strong Silverdale team in the opener, the Lions have reeled off back-to-back wins in impressive fashion. “Since we lost that first game, I’ve stressed to the team that we need to keep taking the season one game at a time, and they’ve really responded well,” said Watson. “The one thing about our team that I like the most is its great attitude,” Watson added. “We sort of have a vision of what we want to accomplish this season, and the guys have worked hard and kept a great attitude through the first three games. “We have a lot of big dreams, but at the same time we have to be realistic.” Lions’ quarterback Brett Weaver put his squad on the board first against St. Andrews Friday by firing a touchdown pass to Tyler Hall from 27 yards out with 13 second left in the first half. Rowlands hit the first of his five extra points to make it 7-0 at the end of one quarter. On the day, Weaver finished 3-or-5 through the air for the Lions, amassing 77 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns. As soon as The King’s Academy got the ball in the second quarter, Weaver led the Lions offense on a drive that resulted in Rowlands’ 21-yard touchdown run. Weaver called his own number four minutes later and skirted in from five yards out to make it 21-0 after the Rowlands’ kick. The Lions’ senior signal caller was given another chance when the home team’s defense turned the ensuing St. Andrews offensive series away. Weaver conducted the two-minute offense during the final stages of the first half and moved the Lions deep inside St. Andrews territory before hooking up with his tall, long-armed receiver Andy Deatherage on an 11-yard touchdown pass with 45 seconds left before halftime. Rowlands’ fourth extra-point kick of the half gave his team a 28-0 lead halfway through the game. Rowlands picked up were he left off at halftime in the second half and again made the highlight reel with a 55-yard sprint to the end zone early into the third stanza. William Lakatosh was given the opportunity to make something happen out of the backfield behind a stellar effort from the Lions’ offensive line later in the third. Lakatosh followed a surge created by his line and rumbled to pay dirt from 34 yard out. Backup kicker Cory Brogdon’s extra point attempt was off the mark leaving the Lions’ advantage 41-0 with just over five minutes left in the third quarter. The visitors finally lit their side of the scoreboard on the final play of the third period when quarterback Chris Singer completed a 28-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Rester. Xander Stewart dashed across the goal line for the successful two-point conversion, making it 41-8. The Lions will travel this week to Sunbright for Friday’s 7:30 p.m. game.