Rey’s 3 TDs spark L’Anse Creuse over LC North

PREP FOOTBALL

Donovan Rey (3) runs two yards for a touchdown that gave L’Anse Creuse a 21-0 lead over L’Anse Creuse North in a MAC White Division game on Friday. The Lancers won 54-20. GEORGE POHLY — FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP

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By George Pohly

For MediaNews Group

Donovan Rey is listed as a running back and safety on the L’Anse Creuse football roster.

But wait, there’s more.

The senior showed he’s capable of plenty when he returned the third-quarter kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown after running earlier for two scores in the Lancers’ 54-20 victory over host L’Anse Creuse North in the MAC White Division opener for both teams Friday night.

“The kid is special,” coach Vince Phillips said. “If we can just get some blocking to get him going, he’s going to have a big year.

“I try to get him from 10 to 15 carries a game. He’s going to break one or two of them. He just needs a little crease up front.”

Logan Kurtz and Jordan Scalici both ran for a touchdown and passed for one, and Carsen Nguyen caught a touchdown pass and ran for a score as the Lancers improved to 2-1 overall with the rivalry victory.

“We’re a young team,” Phillips said. “We’re going to get better.”

It was the Lancers’ fifth-consecutive victory over L’Anse Creuse North. The previous four were MAC crossovers, but both teams are in the White Division this year.

“It’s probably one of the biggest rivalries I’ve been a part of,” said Phillips, a former South Lake coach who’s in his second season with the Lancers. “You’ve got to deal with a lot throughout the week. If you keep your kids focused throughout the week, you’ve got a chance to be really good and win this.”

Senior Desmond Williams Jr. ran for a pair of 1-yard touchdowns and sophomore Andrew Weinrauch passed 30 yards to Ayden Caiozzo for L’Anse Creuse North’s touchdowns.

The Crusaders fell to 0-3 overall under coach DeJuan Garland, who took over as fall camp started.

“It’s a long process,” Garland said. “Got to continue to trust it. Got to continue to build the layers, build the foundation, build the culture.

“From day one, the kids have put in time and are working. We continue to implement our system. Stuff we normally would be doing in June, we’re doing right now. We’re just trying to keep the guys together, build off the positives. That’s all we can do.”

L’Anse Creuse drove 85 yards on its first possession, scoring on a 13-yard run by Kurtz, a junior.

Rey scored on a two-yard run and Dominic Marinello made the second of his six extra-point kicks for a 14-0 lead a few plays after Lathon Groves intercepted a pass at the LCN 20 and returned it to the 15.

Rey’s 16-yard run and Marinello’s boot made it 21-0 with 2:22 left in the first half, and then Rey burst up the middle of the field with the kickoff that started the second half.

“I just followed my guys,” Rey said. “They told me to go to the middle, I trusted them, and they led me to the touchdown.”

Kurtz passed 29 yards to Nguyen for a 35-0 lead before L’Anse Creuse North got on the board on Weinrauch’s pass to Caiozzo.

Nguyen ran five yards for a touchdown and a 42-7 lead, and then Williams scored his first touchdown for L’Anse Creuse North.

Scalici took over at quarterback for Kurtz and ran 40 yards for a touchdown. After Williams’ second score, Scalici found Kalcich over the middle for seven yards and the final touchdown of the game.

Division play continues next week as L’Anse Creuse hosts Grosse Pointe South and L’Anse Creuse North travels to Roseville.