Sports - August 2003

Rikard’s debut spoiled by Trojans

By MIKE POWELL, Correspondent

BANDYS— Bandys had too much depth, too much size and too many weapons for East Lincoln on opening night.

The Trojans, runners-up in last year's state 2AA playoffs, rolled to a 37-10 win over the Mustangs in the debut game for new East Lincoln coach Matt Rikard and his staff.

Bandys unleashed a multi-dimensional offense that amassed 222 yards rushing and 210 yards passing. The Trojans scored 23 unanswered points before East Lincoln got on the scoreboard, and went into the half with a commanding 31-7 lead.

After the Trojans extended the lead to 30 points midway through the third quarter, Bandys coach Randy Lowman put in his reserves.

The only scoring in an otherwise eventful fourth quarter was a 26-yard field goal by East Lincoln's Ellis Dunston.

Bandys coach Randy Lowman said his team's superior depth wore down the Mustangs on a hot, sticky night for football.

"We have 50 guys and they have about 25," said Lowman, whose team is considered a favorite in the rugged Midwest 2A Conference. "They were not able to get people off the field and rest them. I think that took a lot of punch out of them as the game wore on."

Bandys quarterback Zach Elliott hit 10 of 23 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown. Kyle Helderman, a tailback who converted to wideout this season, caught five passes for 126 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown grab in the first quarter.

Chris Spade, a transfer from Fayetteville, made an impressive debut at tailback for the Trojans, rushing 17 times for 164 yards and three touchdowns. Spade scored on runs of 15 and 5 yards in the first half, then capped his big opening night with a 33-yard burst off the left side in the third period.

East Lincoln quarterback Dennis Hickman, a third-year starter, spent most of the night scrambling to avoid a heavy Bandys pass rush. The senior completed six of 21 passes for 83 yards and was intercepted twice, both times by Helderman.

The only East Lincoln touchdown of the night came on a 31-yard completion from Hickman to tight end Grant Covington at the 8:05 mark of the second quarter.

The pass play narrowed Bandys' lead to 23-7, but the Trojans came right back with a 60-yard drive and scored with 37 seconds left in the half on a 9-yard run by Elliott.

T.J. Smith was one of the few bright spots on offense for the Mustangs, rushing 20 times for 99 yards. Smith also got off several long punts, including a 56-yarder in the first half.

Smith was one of several East Lincoln players who played both ways.

"Depth is going to be a problem for us all year. Our skill positions players on offense are our skill position players on defense. Conditioning is going to be important for us," said Rikard, a former East Gaston assistant who replaced Jim Ruark last spring.

Despite Bandys' domination, Rikard praised his team's effort.

"I was proud of the kids. They never stopped playing. The reserves came in and played as if they were starters," he said.

Rikard gave his team high marks for special teams play, but said there is much work to do on the offensive line.

"We have 10 more ballgames. This doesn't make or break our season. I just want our players to remember how it feels tonight so they will come to practice ready to give the effort," Rikard said.

This week the Mustangs play cross-county rival West Lincoln on the Rebels' home field.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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