LANCASTER — As Quartz Hill’s senior lineman Larry Baer posed for a team photo on the field after the game, there was nothing but a smile. Cheers filled the air. Parents screamed with excitement. It hadn’t happened for two years.
After a 34-20 loss last season, the Quartz Hill football team had this game circled. They knew how much it meant, and since spring practices, they’d been building the foundation to make it happen.
The foundation showed up as the Quartz Hill Royals (9-1, 3-0) routed the Lancaster Eagles (7-3, 2-1) 62 -14 to capture the Golden Mountain League title for the first time in three years.
“It’s a big thing for us,” Baer said. “This has been our circled game all year long. We just had to keep our heads down, fight through adversity, and just keep going as a team … We worked hard for this moment, and we deserved it.”
The Quartz Hill defense opened the second half by forcing three straight turnovers and finished with five total for the game. The Royals’ defensive line consistently punched the ball, trying to pry it loose throughout the game. It eventually worked in their favor as two of the three straight turnovers were fumbles.
Both fumbles were returned for touchdowns for the Royals. On both plays, Quartz Hill junior defensive lineman Demaje Devaul was involved. The first time, he picked up the ball and returned it for a score; the second time, he forced the ball out and watched a teammate score. Devaul was motivated to leave his mark on the game.
“I had a bad first half,” Devaul said. “I had a good talk with my coach (at halftime). They told me to win all-league. I got to have a better second half. So when I saw (Lancaster’s quarterback) do that little play-action pass, I knew I was gonna take it to the house.”
The high winds weren’t the only thing blasting through the air at Lancaster. Royals senior quarterback Deshawn Laporte was flying through the air as well, literally. He had a successful hurdle attempt over a Lancaster defender in the first half, but it was called back due to a penalty. Laporte’s legs were a problem all night long for the Eagles defense and something they couldn’t contain.
The lack of containment led to Laporte going 12-of-16 for 305 yards and five touchdowns while adding 25 yards rushing. Even if nobody were open on the initial passing concept, Laporte would run around and eventually find a receiver down the field. A playstyle that’s hard to defend at any level.
“He’s so good,” Bear said of Laporte. “He helps us a lot whenever we’re in pass protection, and we mess up as an offensive line. He’s always helping us out with his legs, getting the first down, doing whatever he needs for us to win.”
When scrambling around, making off-script plays. Chemistry is needed when targeting receivers downfield. Both the quarterback and receiver have to be on the same page.
That chemistry has been built since the spring in the weight room. It’s carried onto the field with Laporte and his receivers, especially senior receiver Jaivyn Nelson. Nelson finished with three receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
All of Nelson’s catches were for big gains, with one of them being a one-handed catch over a defender down the sideline. Another went for a touchdown after he caught a tipped ball in the air when his teammate dropped the pass, spiraling the ball into the air. Nelson was in all the right spots and was always there when his quarterback needed him.
“We both came in, starting summer workouts through off-campus workouts,” Laporte said of his connection with Nelson. “We’ve been training. So I was confident enough that my receiver was going to win, and I took the shot, and he came up with it.”
For Lancaster, Junior receiver Terrance Harper was productive, having nine receptions for 111 yards. It seemed every time the Eagles needed a big play, No. 0 would be there to make it. But the Royals’ overall effort was too much to overcome.
Now both teams await to see who they’ll face in the postseason.