LINGANORE- Linganore head coach Rick Conner never abandons the little things that come with being a football coach. Such as reminding his team to go through their normal daily routines regardless if it’s game day or not.
And like any other high school football player, Jack Staub has his.
Every game day morning Staub abides by his head coaches rule – wake up, gather his belongings – binders, writing utensils, folders filled with classwork crammed in his backpack and is off to school.
He’ll go to class like every other student, do his work and then would be off to the next. Towards the end of the school day, Staub will start to laser-in on the task at hand later that evening – plug in his headphones and listen to some tunes to calm the jitters and occasionally taking a glance at his playbook.
Yesterday, even if it was just an exhibition game, he went through that exact routine. And for Staub it was a game that he long waited for.
In the Week 10 clash against Urbana last year, he suffered a high ankle sprain and forced him to sit out for the rest of the season.
Staub at the time was the team leader in receptions and uncomfortably had to watch his team play without him. Even though it was an exhibition game, Staub didn’t take it that way – going through his routine, zoning in before kickoff and leading his Lancers to a 31-0 thumping win over Hammond.
“Everyday I have my routine and for game day’s it stays the same, but you still get that feeling,” Staub said who finished the game out with five receptions for 132 yards and one touchdown before he and the Linganore starters were pulled at halftime. “Just being underneath these lights again, it’s so great.”
Friday night was the night that the doctor ordered for Staub, as he trotted off the field grinning from ear to ear after a game in which he torched the Hammond defensive backs. The majority of Staub’s routes were hitches and slants.
“The coaching staff made some great play calls tonight,” Staub said who had the mojo flowing with quarterback Nathaniel Musselman all night, who finished six for 11 with 145 passing yards while throwing one touchdown and one interception.
As the Linganore football team stepped off the field for the final time last November after the 14-13 loss to Damascus in the 3A West region championship, they were left with a vacant feeling.
Like the sense that something was incomplete – that what they experienced in the region championship was only a cliffhanger and the sequel was yet to come. Last night could be classified as a sneak peak of what’s ahead.
“I thought we played Linganore football tonight,” Linganore coach Rick Conner said. “The defense did great. Against a team with some athletes, we did well.”
After losing six of their front seven to graduation, if there was a cause for concern on Linganore this season it would be the defense.
Conner’s defense played exceptionally well. Not allowing a first down until the second quarter and shutout a Hammond team that went 5-5 last season.
The lone returning player from the front seven, defensive lineman Tyler Fleagle did not suit up due to a hamstring injury. He is considered day-to-day. Senior nose guard Ben Iwanski recorded one sack for the Lancers.
For the starters on offense, Linganore expressed a balance attack for the most part since being run heavy in the past – passing the ball 15 times and running the ball 14 times. Senior Dante Butler, freshman Davon Butler and junior Dominic Zanoni all saw their fair share of work.
“We’re always going to ride the hot hand,” Conner said. “Each game it will vary on whom gets the most touches.”
The Lancers had a potent rushing attack all night and should continue to do so throughout the season. Returning three year varsity starter and one of the lone players left from the 2013 state championship runner-up team, Dante Butler who finished off with five carries for 44 yards and one touchdown. He also had runs of 34 and 77 yards both called back due to penalties. Both were touchdown runs.
Another Butler will get in on the Lancer rushing attack this season, freshman sensation and younger brother of Dante, Davon Butler. He ran for 30 yards and one touchdown on his five carries. As an eighth grader, he scored 26 touchdowns in seven games.
“I just can’t wait for Week 1,” Davon said. “It’s going to be crazy having (Dante and I) both in the backfield.”
Dominic Zanoni will also play a role in the Linganore rushing party as a fullback, carrying the ball four times for 35 yards and a touchdown.
Linganore will play host to Tuscarora next Friday night in Week 1.
“We definitely have stuff to improve on,” Staub said. “We’re not where we want to be at yet, but we’re getting there.”
Staff photos were taken by Chris Goodridge.
You can follow me on Twitter at @k_fadd and Maryland Sports Access at @MDSportsAccess.
Boxscore
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| LIN | 14 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 31 |
| HAM | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Scoring summary
| L | H | ||||
| 1st | 6:46 | LIN | Dante Butler 7 yard rush (Sparacino kick) | 7 | 0 |
| 2:50 | LIN | Davon Butler 2 yard rush (Sparacino kick) | 14 | 0 | |
| 2nd | 8:48 | LIN | Dominic Zanoni 6 yard rush (Sparacino kick) | 21 | 0 |
| 3:53 | LIN | Jack Staub 64 yard pass from Nathaniel Musselman (Sparacino kick) | 28 | 0 | |
| 3rd | 2:13 | LIN | Anthony Sparacino 15 yard field goal | 31 | 0 |
