Semi-pro football team The Lansing Lighting (2-0) used hard-hitting defense, a terrific ground game and three different quarterbacks to pound the defensively stout and previously undefeated Detroit Redd Doggs (2-1) by the score of 45 – 28 at Lansing’s Risdale Park on Saturday May 22, 2021.
The Lightning’s defense got tripped up early with a deep touchdown pass and a trick play that led to a very early 14-0 lead for the visiting Doggs. But the Lightning’s quarterback, Jake Hart, capped a late 1st quarter drive with a 24-yard TD pass to Wanya Sanders, assisted on the drive by a shifty 37-yard run by halfback Ja’von Wray.
Hart suffered a dislocated shoulder midway through the 2nd quarter but finished with 7 out of 10 passes for 103 yards to accentuate his TD. He was relieved by veteran QB Damon Young who then led the Lightning to two more scores before he too left the game in the third quarter after a hard shot to the head.
“I’m fine, I was just a little dazed for the moment” Young said. “I didn’t feel right for a bit but I started feeling better after the game.”
Young (5-14, 120 YDS, TD) felt that the Lightning were being doubted before the game because of the Red Dogs high-ranked defense. He saw this as a satisfying win.
“It’s a real confidence booster for us and something for us to build on heading forward, especially after being down early,” Young added.
The defense continued to hit hard and stop the Doggs anytime they had momentum. A strip sack and recovery by defensive end Detrick Popsin the 2nd quarter set up a 3-yard TD run by Dultin Davies. This put the Lightning up 23-14.
The defense would only allow two late 4th quarter scores in mop-up duty.
“I was just pursuing the QB and was able to knock his arm” Pops said about the play. “Honestly, I didn’t even know he fumbled until I got up.”
The Lightning’s offense pounded the ball effectively while racking up over 250 yards on the ground. Yet it was the short pass from Kameron Washington, the third QB of the night, that proved to be effective for the Lightning.
The resulting 90-yard TD catch and run by wide receiver DiQuan Hunt (3-108, TD) permanently caged the Doggs for the night. It was Hunt’s second scoring drive for the Lightning, and he added a receiving TD from Young earlier in the game to make a strong case to for game Most Valuable Player (MVP).
“I definitely expected to catch one, but I didn’t really think I’d be able to throw one,” Washington said. He agrees with Young that the team is looking good and relying on its leaders. “If we work and play together as one anything can happen,” he added.
It was a nice win for the Lightning as they head into a matchup with another Michigan-based team ironically named the Capital City Lightning (0-2). The Capital City squad, who have been unimpressive thus far will be adorned in blue uniforms. The Lansing Lightning, who will wear maroon, is not taking them lightly.
“We haven’t seen them play, but we have leaders to take us where we want to be,” Detrick said with a smile in his voice.
Come to Risdale Park at 1:30PM on Saturday June 5th to learn which of the two Lightning teams is really bringing the static! |THIS.
[By Jon Durham | Photos by Beige Planet Photography]
