Reavis Boles over Spartans
Senior scores 4 touchdowns, runs for 252 yards
By Steve Metsch
Rashaad Boles is not one to seek the spotlight. Rather, it finds him.
After he scorched Oak Lawn for four touchdowns and 252 yards on 26 carries – leading Reavis to a 36-12 victory in Burbank – the humble senior was more interested in talking about how the Rams can improve as a team instead of his stunning night.
“We’ve got to get better,” Boles said on March 26. “We’ve got to get ready for TF South next week.”
“We want to go undefeated (in the remaining four games), to shut out every team we play,” Boles said. “We’ve just got to be better on defense.”
The offense? That’s in fine shape with Boles.
Asked which of his four touchdowns was his favorite, Boles said: “There was no favorite. It’s a team effort. It wasn’t me. It was all of us.”
Reavis Head Coach Tim Zasada knows better.
“On Senior Night, he’s one of the guys we count on,” Zasada said. “He’s our playmaker, for sure.”
Boles had six runs of 19 yards or more.
“Sometimes, the holes weren’t there, but great players make their own holes, and that’s what he did tonight on a few runs,” Zasada said. “He broke it. He cut it back. He can stop on a dime.”
Reavis senior Rashaad Boles had a stellar night against Oak Lawn, rushing 26 times for 252 yards and four touchdowns in a 36-12 victory. He downplayed his performance after the game, saying “it’s a team effort.” Photo by Steve Metsch.
Boles opened the scoring on the Rams’ first possession after Oak Lawn failed to convert a first down. He returned the punt 37 yards to Oak Lawn’s 26, then carried four straight, ending with an 8-yard TD run.
Another three-and-out by Oak Lawn (0-2) gave Reavis (1-1) the ball at midfield. The drive ended with Boles’ 4-yard scoring plunge and a 15-0 lead.
The Spartans showed signs of life late in the first half, driving to Reavis’ 25. But they soon faced fourth-and-20 at the 35, from where sophomore quarterback Daniel Lisnic missed junior wide receiver Adam Alcantar.
Just 1:24 remained. Some teams are content to play it conservative. Not Reavis. They relied on their sparkplug and offensive line. Boles needed just three plays. He ran for 29, 22 and 14 yards for a 22-0 halftime lead.
Oak Lawn Head Coach Harold Blackmon said missed tackles helped Boles.
“We definitely made him a lot better, but he’s a good player,” Blackmon said. “We didn’t match his energy tonight. When you come out and don’t match someone’s energy, you make them better because he’s just gaining more confidence. We definitely instilled that in him.”
It didn’t help that Oak Lawn had just 26 players suited up, or that Reavis made a goal-line stand in the third quarter.
“We had our back to the wall, and we never gave up,” Zasada said. “We rallied to the ball. It wasn’t one guy making the tackle. It was four, five or six.”
An apparent Oak Lawn touchdown early in the fourth was lost after the ball was fumbled in the end-zone.
“The refs see it, you can disagree with it, but (at) the end of the day, they have the final call,” Blackmon said diplomatically.
Oak Lawn trimmed the the lead to 22-6 when Lisnic found Alcantar with a 26-yard touchdown pass with 7:08 left in the game.
Boles quickly doused the rally with a 23-yard run to set up his fourth TD, a 29-yarder into the end-zone for a 29-6 lead with 5:56 remaining.
Oak Lawn Head Coach Harold Blackmon gives sophomore quarterback Daniel Lisnic some advice during Friday night’s game at Reavis. Lisnic threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns, but Oak Lawn lost, 36-12. Photo by Steve Metsch.
Lisnic was 12 of 34 for 266 yards and two touchdowns, according to stats provided by Oak Lawn. Alcantar racked up 138 yards and Grey Jacklin added 111 yards.
Most of Oak Lawn’s passing attack came in fourth quarter. Zasada said the Rams played three good quarters, adding that he hopes to see a four-quarter effort in the next game.
Alcantar’s second touchdown made it 29-12. The nifty 40-yarder saw him dance around two defenders en route to the end-zone.
“It’s instinct,” Alcantar said with a smile. “I’ve been playing football for what, 12 years now? Sometimes, my mind just takes my body.”
Reavis senior Anas Everette closed the scoring with 2:46 to play with a 47-yard run. He was untouched after he broke through the line.
In the JV game, Reavis rallied from an 18-0 deficit to win, 20-18.
Email Steve Metsch at sm4610@sbcglobal.net
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