Ramstein’s Gevaughn Bracey sprints for a 32-yard touchdown with 8 seconds left on the clock during a varsity football game at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, September 30, 2017. The Royals won 27-12. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein’s Gevaughn Bracey sprints for a 32-yard touchdown with 8 seconds left on the clock during a varsity football game at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, September 30, 2017. The Royals won 27-12. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Lancer fullback Manny Cordero sheds Ramstein defenders for a goal-line touchdown at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, September 30, 2017. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein’s J.J. Little tries to fake Lancer football player Mike Nighbert during a running play at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, September 30, 2017. Little rushed for 57 yards and one touchdown in the 27-12 victory for the Royals. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Lakenheath’s Jordan Harris signals a receiver during a play-action pass against the Royals at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, September 30, 2017. Harris earned 49 yards on nine carries and scored one rushing touchdown. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein’s Cameron Nails tackles Lancer running back Ion Duenas during a varsity football game at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, September 30, 2017. Duenas rushed for 157 yards in 21 carries. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein’s Gevaughn Bracy stiff-arms Jordan Harris during a running play against the Lancers at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, September 30, 2017. Bracey rushed for 108 yards and one touchdown in the 27-12 victory for the Royals. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein’s Naser Eaves scores a 51-yard receiving touchdown against the Lancers at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, September 30, 2017. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein’s Jackie Harris sprints away from the Lancers for an 83-yard touchdown kickoff return at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, September 30, 2017. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein’s Gevaughn Bracy eyes Jordan Harris during a rush against the Lancers at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, September 30, 2017. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
RAF LAKENHEATH, England — Breakaway plays and key penalties led to a 27-12 football victory for Ramstein in its visit to England on a rare sunny Saturday afternoon.
Right before kickoff, Royals coach Carter Hollenbeck could be heard yelling: “Start fast fellas, start fast,” to his players from the sideline. But it wasn’t until late in the first quarter that both teams scored.
A rushing touchdown by Lancer quarterback Jordan Harris was immediately answered by an 83-yard kickoff return by Jackie Harris.
The Royals scored quickly again at the start of the second quarter with the only touchdown pass of the game from Trevor Miller to Naser Eaves for 51 yards.
Ramstein scored first and last in the second half with a 20-yard rush by J.J. Little in the third and a 32-yard sprint by Gevaughn Bracy with 8 seconds left.
Ramstein led the land battle with Bracy gaining 108 rushing yards, Connor Davey 75 and Little 57.
Lakenheath running back Ion Duenas rushed for 157 yards in 21 carries, Harris had 49 yards on nine carries and fullback Manny Cordero added a short rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Both teams were plagued by penalties and poor execution that halted scoring drives at key moments. Fumbles caused back-to-back turnovers in the second quarter and the Lancers failed two fourth-down conversions in the red zone.
Hollenbeck admitted that it wasn’t until the middle of the third quarter that he began to pick up the tendencies of Lakenheath’s new offensive scheme.
“Lakenheath is hard-hitting, strong team and they’re just getting better and better,” Hollenbeck said after the game. “They’re well organized and they know what they’re doing.”
With only 25 players on the Lakenheath roster, Lancers such as Cordero had to play throughout the game. He went from firing up the defense, to rushing for a touchdown and then kicking off the ball.
“He’s the heart and soul of the team and he gets everyone fired up,” Lancer coach Gabe Feletar said. “He can kind of do it all, but he’s also a very unselfish player and puts the team first.”
The Lancers need to win the next two games in order to secure a fourth seed in this year’s playoffs.
“Every game has been close, even if the scores don’t always reflect that,” Feletar said. “Everyone here knows it was a close game, so we’re going to break through and hopefully carry that motivation on to the playoffs.”
The Royals are looking forward to taking advantage of the upcoming bye week in the schedule for all DODEA teams.
“It allows us to rest, heal, focus on grades and continue to get better,” Hollenbeck said.
Twitter: @William16058388
