Lancaster Slugs Out Win Over Canyon in Playoff Debut

Playing tough defense mixed with a ball-control offense may be boring to some but for Lancaster High its an opportunity to beat up its opponents.

The Eagles, in their first playoff appearance, punished Canyon on Friday night, hammering away on the line of scrimmage during a 10-0 first-round Division III victory at Lancaster.

Lancaster advanced to the second round and will play Alemany, a winner over 42-14 Pasadena. The site will be determined by a coin flip.

Percy Abrams of Lancaster (9-2), gaining 115 yards, including the game’s only touchdown, in 29 carries.

Abrams, who has been filling in for leading rusher Danny Pagnella, chewed up more than just yardage, keeping the ball away from the Cowboys (6-5) for most of the night.

Pagnella, who missed the final two regular-season games with an Achilles’ tendon injury, gained 26 yards in seven carries.

“We knew we had Percy all along,” said Coach Ray DeShane of Lancaster.

“He’s not a step down from Danny. When he puts his body into it, he can be physical.”

Canyon had only one scoring chance, but an illegal procedure penalty was followed by a missed 22-yard field goal attempt by Pat Terry.

Canyon was held to 117 yards, just 45 yards coming on the ground. The Cowboys rushed for more than 200 yards against Hart last week.

Quarterbacks Jason McKeon and Julio Deleon of Canyon were sacked five times.

Abrams on a three-yard run in the second quarter and Robert LaPlante kicked a 40-yard field goal in the third quarter.