Damko delivers for Sailors

By Jim Hunter

September 6, 2008 September 06, 2008 12:24 am

— CONNEAUTVILLE — Lakeview quarterback Jordan Damko only threw one pass against Conneaut Valley and it was incomplete.
However, it was Damko’s decision-making and running skills in the second half that was the difference in the Sailors’ a 30-14 win over the homestanding Indians Friday night in Region 1 action.
Knotted at 6-6 at halftime, Lakeview coach Dan York made a few offensive adjustments and Damko did the rest as the Sailors dominated the Indians.
“Conneaut Valley plays a 50 defense and we just had to find the gaps and we did in the second half,” York said. “Give Jordan all the credit, he made the right decisions.”
The Damko-led Sailors made an immediate statement in the second half — going 58 yards on 10 plays on their opening drive to break the 6-6 tie.
Junior halfback Chad Blair — filling in for the injured Kyle Scott — was the workhorse with 23- and 14-yard runs and he finished off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
On Lakeview’s next drive, Conneaut Valley punter Kyle Welker pinned the Sailors deep into their own territory with a 51-yard punt. The Sailors took over at the 10.
Welker’s beauty went for naught, though.
On third-and-11, Damko called his own number and the fleet-footed senior signal-caller shocked the Indians with a 90-yard touchdown run down the right sideline to increase the Sailors’ lead to 18-6 with 2:17 left in the third quarter.
Exactly two minutes later, Lakeview — after a successful pooch kick — led 24-6 as fullback Jake Novak busted loose for a 20-yard touchdown run.
Taking advantage of a Sailors’ fumble at their own 5, Conneaut Valley closed to within 24-14 with six minutes left in the game as Darren Hyde rammed into the end zone from 1-yard out.
A dramatic Conneaut Valley comeback? Not with Damko running the show for the Sailors.
Calling his own number again, Damko finished the game fittingly with an 18-yard option touchdown run around left end with 43 seconds left in the game.
Game Notes: Blair didn’t run like a second-stringer — rushing for 156 yards on 30 carries. “Chad is a hard-nosed kid,” said York ... Damko also cracked the 100-yard rushing mark with 113 on 10 hauls ... Lakeview fullback Jake Novak also had a productive night on the ground with 85 yards on 12 totes ... Speaking of Novak, the Sailors’ middle linebacker was a defensive monster with 17 tackles, one sack and one tackle for loss ... Mike Leonard — who broke loose for a 77-yard touchdown run in the first half — was the Indians’ top ground gainer with 94 yards on 11 carries ... CV sophomore quarterback Casey Baker — showing a silky smoothness — was 7-for-20 for 68 yards, but had several passes dropped ... While Novak was the Sailors’ top defensive player, CV defensive back Welker was just as tough with several behind-the-line tackles ... The tackle of the night: by Lakeview kicker DaQuan Ward. CV’s Bobby Harris broke into the open field on a kickoff return in the second half and only had Ward to beat. The Sailors’ kicker won the battle with a textbook tackle.