By Marion Valanoski
COAL TOWNSHIP -- For one magical night No. 7 replaced No. 22 but the results remained the same and for that reason Lourdes Regional can call itself All-America Conference champion.
Michael Bastian could not find his jersey Friday and was forced to play with a new number during the regular-season finale against Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech. That about the only difference for the standout tailback, who rushed for 116 yards and three touchdowns, surpassing the 1,000-yard mark for the season, leading the Red Raiders to a 27-6 win at Leo A. Mulhall Stadium.
"We may not have great numbers, but we have great kids who give us everything they've got," Lourdes coach Mike Klembara said. "This was a solid performance by our players on both sides of the ball, but the championship came because of a total team effort and steady improvement from the start of the season right up until this game."
The Red Raiders (7-2, 5-1) scored on their first possession on a methodical 12-play, 59-yard drive culminated with Dylon Lawrence's one-yard plunge for the touchdown.
Bastian collected 26 yards on five carries and Lawrence added 22 more on the drive, but it was a clutch 11-yard pass reception by Matt Gilger on fourth-and-five on the Rams' 36 that kept the drive alive.
With a 7-0 lead after one quarter, Lourdes increased the advantage to 14-0 by halftime as the offense again went on a methodical but effective seven-play, 74-yard drive as Bastian and Lawrence carved chunks of yardage out of the Vo-Tech defense and Bastian capped the drive with a score.
"Our offensive line did a great job of blocking and both backs ran hard," Klembara said. "The defense gave up a few big plays but buckled down when it counted the most and kept their runners in check."
Matt Gilger made any type of comeback that much harder when he intercepted a pass on the third play of the second half and Bastian went around left end for the touchdown to up the advantage to 20-0.
Lawrence contributed 74 yards to the winning effort and the defense held the usually potent Vo-Tech offense to just 91 yards.
"Dylon's improvement was a big plus for us because that took pressure off of Bastian and opposing teams just can't zero in on him anymore," Klembara said. "And our line just gets better and better."
The Red Raiders are expected to host a first round Eastern Conference game next Friday, likely against Canton.
