Lancers Committed to Winning in 2018

The Lancers Football team enters the 2018 season with the team motto of “One Team, One Dream.”

But they know it will take more than a catchy motto to find success this fall. It’s going to take teamwork and dedication. And they are all ready to make that commitment.

Head coach Matt Bradshaw’s expectations are certainly reasonable and attainable ones and he wants his boys to focus on the basics to be better each day which should lead to the long-term goals of securing more wins and making the playoffs.

Lewiston-Porter will hang its hopes on the shoulders of seven returning starters. Namely lineman Joe Powers who was a Trench Trophy Underclassmen Award winner and all-league selection. Other all-league players back are Marc Maio (OL/DL), Gino Fontanarosa (RB/LB) and QB JP Stewart.

Along with those four taking over leadership of the team, Bradshaw is expecting more for Noah Coppins (LB), Cole Murdoch (FB/DE), Nick Marra (DB), Aiden Salick (OL) and Dillon Fitzgerald, who should be a force on special teams.

Bradshaw is also excited about the promise of some incoming youth.

Corey Stack is a dual threat at running back and linebacker, while the arrival of Jared Rebon, Connor Grace and St. Joe’s transfer Same Torrie will make the line even better.

The speed of Jon Wendt and Cooper Krawczyk will be utilized at wide receiver and defensive back.

Those four will need to step into roles of leadership as the Lancers lost Cody Fouts (Alfred U.), Dylan Morrissette (Buff St.), Michael Allender, Will Duff and Brendan Perreault to graduation.

Bradshaw was pleased by the commitment his team made during in the offseason during the three day camp at Wilson and at the St. John Fisher camp that several of their linemen took part in.

Though the Lancers went just 2-7, Bradshaw said they learned the value of fighting to the end. It paid off as they took positive steps forward in the final three weeks.

“Never quit,” said Bradshaw. “They continued to work hard and won two of the last three games.”

Lopsided losses to Cheektowaga and Maryvale early in the season might have taken the life out of lesser teams, but the Lancers never gave up on each other. They responded with strong efforts in Weeks Three and Four against Burgard and Pioneer, taking leads into the fourth quarter in both cases.

“I believe this gave the kids confidence that the work we’re putting in is paying off,” said Bradshaw.