Poland thwarts Louisville comeback

The Bulldogs hung on for a 13-12 season-opening victory.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
POLAND -- After the sun went down and the temperature dropped, Bryce Zimmermann heated up.
The Poland High defensive end broke through Louisville's line twice in the waning minutes, disrupting quarterback Josh Vacha, to preserve the Bulldogs' 13-12 victory in the season opener Friday.
"You have to start somewhere," Poland coach Paul Hulea told his team in the postgame huddle, "and we started here tonight."
Nuisance to Louisville
A 6-foot, 260-pound senior, Zimmermann thwarted the Leopards' last-ditch comeback attempt by bulling ahead and sacking Vacha on second down from Poland's 42-yard line.
Two plays later, on fourth down from midfield, Zimmermann pushed his way into Louisville's backfield again, forcing Vacha to throw incomplete.
Game over. Poland's victory over Louisville, one of last season's unbeaten Division II teams and playoff qualifiers, was complete.
"That was one of the first times I got through because they were doubling me all night," Zimmermann said of his late-game opportunity. "I just timed the snaps pretty good and tried to beat them to the corner."
To no one's surprise, Poland's defense came calling when it was needed, stopping the Leopards in the fourth quarter.
Probably the biggest stand came after Louisville had crawled to within 13-12 on Vacha's 15-yard touchdown pass with nine minutes remaining.
The Leopards, whose no-huddle offense operated out of the shotgun throughout the game, elected for a two-point conversion and the lead. But senior Anthony Brine broke up Vacha's pass in the end zone.
"It surprised us," Hulea said of Louisville's decision. "We almost called a timeout."
New face
Poland's victory came with a different touch -- a new quarterback. Senior Reid Lamport stepped under center for his first game in place of the graduated Sean Clayton.
"Everyone talked about how he [Clayton] was so good, and plus he went to Michigan State," Lamport said of the expectations he faces. "It is tough [to fill his shoes], but we'll see what happens."
After a lackluster first quarter, Lamport settled down.
"I was a little nervous at the beginning," he said. "Once I completed my first pass and I got in a groove, the game came to me."
Lamport completed 9-of-13 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown, a 7-yard pass to senior Dave Koval in the second quarter for Poland's first points of the 2003 season.
The touchdown strike to Koval capped Lamport's best drive of the game. He directed the Bulldogs 88 yards, which included three straight completions -- to Michigan State recruit Dan McGarry (19 yards), Jim Kozlow (19) and Koval (16).
"When you have a 6-6 tight end [McGarry], all I have to do is throw it up," Lamport said, "and Koval's the fastest kid in the [Metro Athletic Conference]."
After halftime, however, Poland only went to the air five times and instead relied on junior tailback Jim Shurilla, who struggled for yardage against the Leopards' defense.
"We probably should have thrown more than we did," Hulea admitted, "but that's something we'll work on."
Also making his presence felt was Poland senior kicker Shawn O'Halloran, who booted field goals of 22 and 45 yards, and was instrumental in pinning Louisville back with his punts.
"He had seven points tonight," Hulea said. "He's a great kid. We're real pleased with him, and it was nice to see him kick well in a clutch game."
richesson@vindy.com