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BALTIMORE — Since the end of the 2016 season last December, Ty Lenhart has relentlessly searched for game-like opportunities with high-leverage stakes, from intense seven-on-seven tournaments to simulated situationals in practice. In terms of actual playing time, Lenhart’s resume is practically blank. But if you account for the past three years, where he’s served as the backup quarterback for three-straight championship teams at DeMatha and practiced against some of the top defensive recruits in the nation, Lenhart is a seasoned tactician who knows every nook and cranny of the Stags’ offense. He’s just yet to manifest his capability in the limelight.
After three years of waiting, Lenhart’s time has come and the keys to the DeMatha offense are his. On Friday morning at Dunbar High School, Lenhart and the Stags participated in their final scrimmage of the summer against St. Frances Academy, the reigning MIAA A-conference champions — a final tune-up before they trek out to Las Vegas and play the second-ranked team in the nation, Bishop Gorman, next Friday on ESPNU.
Behind Lenhart’s 275 yards and two touchdowns on 11-for-14 passing in the first half, DeMatha walked away with a 31-21 victory in a pit between the top team in the metropolitan area versus Baltimore’s top dog.
“Playing a team like them really gets us ready. They’re awesome. They’re a good team. … I thought it was a great time, playing against those guys,” Lenhart said. “They got some big-time athletes, and our whole goal was to come out, get that confidence ready and get things going, get that mindset right for next week and I thought we did a good job of that.
“Obviously some things to fix. I just wanted to come out here and instill confidence in my prep, in my game play, and I thought I did well. Some mistakes I got to fix up, but I thought, overall, it was a great day”
Kyle McFadden on Twitter
@DeMathaFootball @SFAfootball_MD @TyLenhart1 @Redskins @Ravens @TerpsFootball @TheJoshWilson Post-game interview with @DeMathaFootball’s tactician under center, @TyLenhart1. Had him at 11-for-14 with 275 yards and 2 TD’s, in one half https://t.co/yKLyX8X7Fm
Lenhart, against St. Frances’ college-sized front-seven, hung back in the pocket unflinchingly in all of his reps. Things didn’t bounce his way early, but instead of forcing an ill-advised pass across the flat, he let the game come to him. Late in the first quarter on third-and-seven, still scoreless, Lenhart exploited a St. Frances breakdown in the secondary and uncorked a 74-yard bomb to fellow receiver Rodney Patterson to put DeMatha up 7-0.
After St. Frances’ Quincy Hall returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards to the house to knot it at 7-7, Lenhart took advantage of another St. Frances miscommunication, connecting with Dominic Lyles on a 72-yard score to thrust the Stags ahead once more, 14-7.
Then, after St. Frances responded to tie it at 14-14, Lenhart got one of those high-leverage opportunities. With 1:09 left in the first half, DeMatha received the ball at their own 20-yard-line. Over the next 64 seconds, Lenhart marched the Stags 68 yards down the field to the Panthers’ 12-yard-line to set-up a 27-yard field goal, which ultimately gave DeMatha the lead at the break, 17-14.
Kyle McFadden on Twitter
@DeMathaFootball @SFAfootball_MD @TyLenhart1 .@TyLenhart1 marches @DeMathaFootball 68 yds in 1:09 to set up this go-ahead 27-yd field goal as the half expires. Stags lead 17-14 after 2 https://t.co/NAuYa86ba6
“I thought he did a fantastic job,” Brooks said. “We struggled on the ground today. We had a couple guys out, but that’s no excuse. We still struggled against a very good St. Frances front and Ty did a great job of throwing the ball on time, delivering the football with confidence and our receivers helped him out by catching the ball.”
Since it’s the last scrimmage for both teams, cautionary approaches were exercised. DeMatha lineman and University of Maryland commit Austin Fontaine did not suit up and on St. Frances, feature back Joachim Bangda and linebacker Tyree Henry were held out because of injury.
In addition, starters like Lenhart only played the first half, and when the second half came around, the second and third-teamers shuffled into the lineup.
Nonetheless, the highly anticipated preseason bout lived up to the hype.
“Pound-for-pound, they’re gigantic. So, it was a great test for us in preparation for Bishop Gorman,” Brooks said. “I don’t even think Bishop Gorman has that size. But we got a chance to see some weaknesses that we got to fix and hopefully they’ll be resolved by next week.”
Lenhart’s dazzling passing display is a huge plus to take from Friday, but on the contrary, there are some concerns. Between backs MarShawn Lloyd and Myles Miree, 31 yards on 18 carries were mustered. A sub-one yards per carry clip isn’t going to cut it.
“At times, we didn’t stay on guys,” Brooks said. “St. Frances’ effort was better up front most of the day, and we gotta get that fixed or it’s going to be tough in Las Vegas.”
For St. Frances, they’re set to repeat as MIAA A-conference champs in 2017. But first, they’re trying to iron out the kinds. Because of league rules, St. Frances is only one week into formal team practices.
“This is great for us,” St. Frances Coach Henry Russell said. “DeMatha has a great team. Lots of talent, well coached. We started a week ago yesterday. … We wanted to come out and test them. It’s a good test for us and we’ll see where we’re at after a week.
“You don’t have a lot of time before you get into the season. If we had four weeks, it’d be a different story. But when you’re short on time, you want to play against a team like DeMatha, who is talented and has a lot of guys that can give you a good look. And that’s what we got today. They gave us a great look. It’s nice to put them in a situation and have them go through the fire.”
DeMatha, ranked No. 13 nationally by MaxPreps, now approaches game week, where they’ll face second-ranked Bishop Gorman at 9:00 p.m. EST on ESPNU.
“We just need to get everything together. Details, that’s one thing we focus on here a lot,” Lenhart said. “If you pay attention to details, everything will work itself out. We have to come Sunday ready to work and this whole week, we have to stick our heads down and work and get focused in for this big-time game. But, you know, you have to have fun doing it [and] enjoy the experience. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and we’re all just going to have fun with it.”
