By DOUG CHAPIN

sports@vindy.com

ASHTABULA

Howland High football coach Dick Angle could not have written a better script for the start of his Tigers’ season-opening contest on Thursday at Lakeside High.

In the first two minutes of the game, Howland scored two touchdowns on fumble recoveries, then added a 54-yard scoring burst from sophomore running back De’Veon Smith about two minutes later on the way to a 45-14 thumping of the Dragons.

“That was unexpected, we didn’t see that coming. We thought that they would play us tough, they always do,” Angle said. “We got them deep in their territory, they coughed the ball up and we get a score, we block a punt and get a score ... it snowballs.

“Their kids played hard the second half and they’re going to get better.”

On third-and-23 from its own 6-yard-line, Lakeside tried to run a draw play, but senior defensive tackle Cody Reesman got his hands on the ball and fell in the end zone for the Tigers’ first touchdown just 66 seconds into the game.

Junior defensive back Kenny Pozega then set up the Tigers on the Lakeside 18 by recovering another Dragons fumble.

After an offsides penalty against Lakeside, Smith ran the ball down to the 2-yard-line before fumbling himself.

Fortunately, teammate Dominic Termine was there to recover in the end zone for Howland’s second score which came just 19 seconds after the first.

Lakeside punted after its next possession and Howland took over on its 46. Smith made short work of the possession, breaking off for a 54-yard gallop. He added a 38-yard run for a touchdown early in the second quarter and finished with 110 yards on five carries.

Senior quarterback Tim Parana, making his first start, finished 5-for-5 passing for 52 yards. Dan O’Brien had two catches for 31 yards. Chris McClearn was perfect on four extra points and added a 22-yard field goal set up by a blocked punt by sophomore Brendan Cope.

“We’re pretty good on offense, our offensive line is really strong,” Angle said. “The consistency we’ve had in our coaching staff in the 12 years we’ve been here makes a difference. We haven’t had much turnover.”

Howland led 24-0 after one quarter and 38-0 at halftime.

The Tigers’ second team outplayed Lakeside’s starters in the third quarter, out-gaining the Dragons 62 yards to four, and recording five first downs to none for the home team.

Sophomore fullback Tyler Drass had a big quarter with 38 yards on six carries and a touchdown. For the game, he totaled 61 yards on 14 carries.

Howland has high hopes in 2010 as it aims for a fourth straight playoff appearance. Angle said he was pleased with the team’s progress throughout preseason practice and scrimmages.

“We always make our first scrimmage very difficult, so our second scrimmage we really took a giant step, we got better,” he said. “We played a lot of young kids in that scrimmage who showed us they can play on Friday nights. That showed in the third quarter tonight with our backup kids.”

If the Tigers can continue to improve their depth, the script for Howland’s season could be quite an exciting one.