Te Elias leads Lakeview over Struthers 34-14

By Chuck Housteau

Vindicator Correspondent

STRUTHERS — Lakeview’s Te Elias was basically the understudy for All-State tailback Ben Moody in the Bulldogs backfield last season.

Although the senior was a two-year letterman, he played mostly fullback in 2008 blocking for Moody while waiting to get his chance to contribute more to the Bulldogs offensive attack this season.

On opening night at Struthers, Elias stepped into the spotlight on his 18th birthday by rushing for 211 yards and scoring on touchdown runs of 41, 70, 41 and 30 yards to lead the Bulldogs to a 34-14 win over the Wildcats.

“I’ve been waiting three years for this opportunity,” Elias said. “It’s only one game though.

“It felt good to get this first win under our belts. We played really well as a team. The line and receivers were blocking really well and the holes were huge.”

Elias said he learned a lot from Moody who is now playing football at Cornell University.

“Me and Ben had a great relationship,” Elias said. “He helped me a lot being a year older and a year more experienced.”

Lakeview coach Tom Pavlansky couldn’t have been more excited for his team and Elias’ effort.

“Ben was a great back but Ben didn’t do it all by himself last year,” Pavlansky said. “We had a lot of good players last year and this year is the same thing.

“Te Elias could have been a three-year starter if Ben wasn’t in front of him and I wouldn’t trade Te Elias for anyone but he didn’t do it by himself tonight either.”

Elias did get the Bulldogs started when he exploded through a hole on Lakeview’s second possession of the game, broke several tackles and raced 41 yards to the end zone.

Struthers seemed to get right back in the game later in the first quarter when backup quarterback Jermayne Brooks went 55 yards for a score. The play was nullified by a penalty and that was about all that Struthers could muster offensively for the most part of three quarters.

Lakeview’s defense was outstanding all night long.

Led by linebacker Clint Hess, who doubles as the team’s placekicker and booted four extra points and defensive back Mike Pringle, Lakeview held Struthers to 84 yards of offense in the first half.

Hess was also responsible for three jarring hits on kickoffs.

“We had eight new starters on defense,” Pavlansky said. “We kept them out of the end zone until about five minutes left in the game and forced several turnovers.

“Struthers is a young team and we have to keep getting better.”

Lakeview tacked on 20 points in the second quarter on two more Elias runs and a nine-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Anthony Franco to Louie Novakovich.

The Bulldogs opened up a 34-0 lead on another long run by Elias who then sat the rest of the game and watched his teammates from the sidelines.

Struthers, who started sophomore Ralph Pollifrone at quarterback and junior Keith Auman at tailback, struggled until the fourth quarter.

Auman scored twice on runs of 3 and 1 yards and finished with 73 yards rushing on 19 carries.

Sophomore fullback Mike Maillis also played a solid game rushing for 47 yards.

“Lakeview’s a really good football team and we are extremely young,” said Struthers coach Dallas Saunders. “We came out and played that way.

“There were times when we moved the football offensively but we couldn’t finish drives a turned the ball over several times.

“We’ll have to overcome those things but I believe we will continue to get better.”