By JOHN BASSETTi

sports@vindy.com

LEAVITTSBURG

Lakeview scored twice in less than six minutes in the first quarter, then put its defense to work in a 12-0 All-American Athletic Conference National Division win that marked coach Tom Pavlansky’s 100th at the school.

Now in his 16th season at Lakeview, Pavlansky described his 100th win as a team effort.

“It means that I’m surrounded by a lot of good, good people, going back to 1999 and they all contributed to this one,” Pavlansky said before rattling off many names, starting with his seniors that season.

The win over LaBrae was Lakeview’s third shutout, not counting seven points that Struthers scored on an interception return during Lakeview’s 14-7 win in Week 2.

The Bulldogs (4-3, 3-1) also blanked Newton Falls, 56-0, and Champion, 28-0.

“Our defense has the ability to be pretty stout at times,” Pavlansky said, citing the work of assistant coaches Mickey Sikora, Ron DeJulio Jr., Ron DeJulio Sr., Greg Lazzari and Mark Swinning.

Andrew Grove scored from seven yards out, followed by Nick Boldt’s 2-yard run in the opening quarter.

Helping in the cause was Ryan Pishotti, a 6-2, 175 senior who had an interception in the fourth quarter and threw an option pass to Tom Bell that covered 43 yards prior to the second TD.

Pishotti and Grove, along with Chris Romano and Luke Harrison, were seniors singled out by Pavlansky as demanding a lot from players during weekly practices.

From his cornerback position, Pishotti had his pickoff at the 1-yard line when LaBrae was threatening in the fourth quarter. It was part of a secondary that tightened its coverage when LaBrae quarterback Justin Jenkins desperately tried to erase the zero on the scoreboard for his Vikings (4-3, 1-3).

“We had a great week of practice, we played our game and my teammates did a great job of setting us up and doing what we needed to do,” Pishotti said. “Defensively, we tried to contain him,” he said of Jenkins. “We couldn’t let him get outside because he’s a fast kid and he’ll run and he likes to scramble. If the passing game’s not working, he’s going to use his feet.”

Pishotti, who is normally No. 20, wore No. 12 in honor of teammate and friend, Andrew Marino, who broke a foot in a preseason scrimmage.

Marino is No. 12, but Pishotti wears the jersey during away games because it's Pishotti’s way of representing Marino. At home games, Pishotti wears No. 20, his own jersey.

Pavlansky said that defensive pressure was important in the second half, but Lakeview’s special teams played a major role, too.

“I thought our special teams were fantastic,” said Pavlansky, specifically mentioning Lakeview’s last two punt coverage plays.

On the next-to-the last punt, Sean Rein tackled the punter instantly. On the game’s last punt, Lakeview was able to retain possession and run down the clock when John King recovered a fumble and the Bulldogs rode out the final 2:15.

Jenkins had 51 yards on 14 carries and completed 15 of 31 passes for 153 yards.

However, the Vikings were hurt by nine penalties that accounted for 75 yards.

“We shot ourselves in the foot and stalled some drives out because of penalties,” LaBrae coach John Armeni said, “but we fought back in the second half and we’re getting better week by week.”

Jenkins played for the first time since mid-September.

“He’s been our engine since Day 1 and missing him for a couple weeks while he served his suspension hurt us, but he knocked a lot of rust off tonight, too,” Armeni said. “We got in the groove a little because he’s a playmaker who makes us a better football team.”

Other top players for LaBrae, which out-gained Lakeview, 252-189, were receiver Keevon Harris and DL Andrew Cree.

“He had some big sacks and tackles for losses,” Armeni said of Cree, a 6-3, 210 junior.

“Keevon is one of our special athletes and we need to give him more touches.”