Lancers top Baxter, still unbeaten

With next week’s Homecoming showdown against the Girard Trojans looming on the horizon, Southeast coach Clint Rider knew Friday’s game at winless Baxter Springs was the quintessential trap game.

“We probably got caught looking ahead a little bit,” Rider said after the Lancers posted a 32-0 victory over Baxter Springs. “We got a little bit of a reality check tonight.”

Southeast is now 3-0 on the season, and its high-octane offense continues to improve.

“Our kids have accomplished a lot of things that maybe some people didn’t think they could,” Rider said. “But like I told them tonight, we’re still pretty young with our success, and we need to learn how to handle that a little bit better.”

Led by a talented group of skill players, the Lancers dominated Baxter Springs early and often, outgaining the Lions 353-162 in a driving rainstorm Friday night.

Southeast scored twice in the first quarter, and added a third score on the final play of the first half to post a 20-0 halftime lead, effectively putting the game out of reach.

Quarterback Josh Thompson threw for 145 yards and two touchdowns, adding a third score on a 10-yard run to pace Southeast. His favorite target, Daniel Peak caught seven passes for 151 yards and a touchdown, and set the tone of the game early by returning the opening kickoff 39 yards to set up the Lancers’ first score.

Southeast ran for 208 yards, a fact that pleased Rider.

“I thought we ran the ball pretty well tonight. The line did a good job up front, and that’s a big plus for us,” Rider said. “I thought Baxter did a good job with their defensive schemes against our receivers.”

The Lancers took the opening kickoff and marched 41 yards on 10 plays, with Thompson capping it off with a 10-yard scoring run at the 8:55 mark of the opening quarter. They were set up in good field position after Peak’s return.

Southeast started its first three drives in Baxter Springs territory, at the 41, 35 and 26-yard lines, respectively. The Lancers scored on two of those drives. Their second touchdown was set up by a 34-yard pass from Thompson to Peak to the Baxter 2.

Caleb Biancarelli scored from there, and Thompson’s two-point run made it 14-0 at the 5:59 mark of the first quarter.
Southeast scored on the final play of the first half. The Lancers got the ball at the Baxter Springs 40 with 25 seconds left, where Thompson and Peak hooked up on another 34-yard pass play to the Lion 6. Two plays later, they hooked up for the score to make it 20-0 at halftime.

Thompson found Peak on a 23-yard scoring play at the 3:06 mark of the third quarter, and Biancarelli finished off the scoring with his second touchdown run of the night, from seven yards out at the 6:00 mark of the fourth quarter.

Southeast dominated play in the first half, outgaining Baxter Springs 179-28 in total yards. Thompson was 6-of-15 before halftime, throwing one interception that ended a scoring threat midway through the second quarter.

The Lancers got solid play up front on defense, and key plays from Ryan Rakestraw and Jason Reed.

“We were shooting for a shutdown tonight and the kids got that done, so I was very pleased with our defensive play,” Rider said.

Biancarelli finished with 41 yards rushing and two touchdowns for Southeast while Colton Charlton rushed for 48 yards on eight carries, including several key runs for first downs in the early scoring drives.

About the only bad news for Southeast was the loss of senior lineman Brad Huffine, who went down with an ankle sprain midway through the third quarter. Rider said his condition was not yet known.

Amos Bindel led Baxter Springs with 101 yards on 21 carries.