Lakewood’s Sauni makes a case for the defense
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
The performance of Lakewood’s Simon Sauni in the Lancers’ 40-17 victory over Millikan on Friday night was something to see.
Something for college recruiters to see.
The 6-foot, 265-pound senior nose guard was seemingly everywhere, making a third-quarter interception, recovering a fourth-quarter fumble that led to a touchdown on the next play, making two sacks of Millikan junior quarterback Jake Holtz and generally wreaking havoc on the Rams.
His efforts helped the Lancers (5-3, 3-1) rally from a 17-13 third-quarter deficit and keep the coveted Hamilton Trophy at Lakewood for another year. The Lancers have won their annual meeting with Millikan (5-2, 2-2) for the sixth consecutive year. They also won their third consecutive game since a 13-6 loss to Long Beach Poly, a winner of 70 consecutive Moore League games and the No. 7 team in the Southland, according to The Times.
With Sauni sparking an inspired defense, the Rams scored 27 points in the final minutes, with three of four touchdowns in the quarter either set up or coming directly off of turnovers. The Lancers had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries, including one returned 40 yards for a touchdown by linebacker Ryan Walker, in the period.
‘The defense just buckled down,’ said Lakewood junior running back Alex Fletcher, who scored on fourth-quarter runs of 11, 20 and two yards and also had a 10-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. ‘They’ve always been able to do it, it just hadn’t happened yet.’
Picking off fourth-quarter passes were seniors Jeremy Cutler and Cedric Moore, who is drawing interest from several Pac-10 Conference schools. Senior Vincent Abbott also returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown that gave the Lancers a 13-10 lead in the final seconds of the second quarter.
‘It’s very satisfying,’ Sauni said. ‘Everybody just came together. It’s my senior year, most of the defense is seniors, and we’ve got to come out here and win. We’ve got to leave a legacy on the field.’
Sauni left most everything else on the field, too, after playing with a broken right thumb and then suffering a dislocated right shoulder that forced him to the sidelines for a few minutes in the third quarter.
‘I’m sore, I’m hurting,’ he said with a tired smile. ‘But hey, as long as we got that trophy, I’m OK. I’m happy.’
Check out more game coverage in the Press-Telegram.
- Lauren Peterson