Lakes rolls by Round Lake

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:30PM

For the first time in the history of the rivalry game, both Lakes and Antioch will enter the contest next Friday night with identical 5-1 marks. Lakes held up its part of the bargain on Saturday afternoon in Round Lake. The starting defensive players for the Eagles held the home-standing Panthers scoreless well into the fourth quarter. And then they took a break. Lakes breezed to a 28-14 NSC Prairie Division win.

Breezed was the key word here. Lakes coach Luke Mertens couldn't recall a game that was so affected by a brisk wind.

"The wind was terrible,'' Mertens said. "It was definitely a factor in this game.''

After a scoreless first quarter, the Eagles began to take control. Nick Tognocchi was the first Eagle to dent the scoreboard. His first carry of the game was good for a nine-yard touchdown. After a 10-yard Round Lake punt, Donte Arnold made the Panthers pay with a 16-yard TD run. It was 14-0 at halftime.

Lakes did get some help in the running game from junior Michael Pfeiffer. He finished with 109 yards on 17 carries. He filled in for two backs who missed with injuries.

"And he's got a sore back,'' Mertens said. "And a twisted ankle. That was a very gritty performance."

Pfeiffer's one-yard plunge was the lone tally of the third quarter. Chris Hoffman also scored for Lakes as the lead grew to 28-0 in the final quarter. Round Lake (1-5) waited to the final minute before scoring. Jacoby Griffin scored both touchdowns for the Panthers. The senior scored on a run from four yards out. With nine seconds to play, he snared a 19-yard touchdown pass from QB Anthony Gutierrez.

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