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Sheldon High's Kimau Wright pulls down Lodi High's Alex Santiago on Friday night at the Grape Bowl. The Huskies defeated the Flames 25-10. (Jerry R. Tyson/News-Sentinel)

Lodi Flames fade in second half

By Joelle Milholm
News-Sentinel Staff Writer
Saturday, September 12, 2009 7:18 AM PDT

Comments (17 comment(s))

Lodi's offense shut down in the second half and Sheldon's couldn't be stopped as the Flames fell 25-10 in their season-opener on Friday night at the Grape Bowl.

After taking a 10-6 lead at halftime, Lodi was only able to get two first downs in the second half. The Flames had the ball for only 6:45 in the final 24 minutes. Sheldon, on the other hand, ran away with the game as soon as the third quarter started. On the legs of Dewone Young, the senior running back who totaled 218 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries, the Huskies had the Flames (0-1) on their heels in the second half.

"We couldn't stop them and we couldn't get first downs," Lodi head coach Todd Dillon said. "We just didn't have enough big plays and tackling was an issue. We are going to be all right, they were just a really good football team."

In the first half, Collin Rhoads was dissecting the Huskies (1-0). Bootlegging and running the option, he threw for 81 yards and ran for another 62. He led the Flames on a 59-yard opening drive that resulted in a 30-yard Alexander Fraiser field goal and Lodi took a 3-0 lead.

In the second quarter, the Flames marched down the field, capping an 80-yard drive with a 3-yard Alex Santiago TD run. With a 10-6 lead, Lodi almost scored again after driving down to Sheldon's 6-yard line, but then the clock ran out.

Rhoads didn't complete a pass in the second half. He was sacked twice and didn't gain any yards on the ground. Sheldon head coach Ed Lombardi credited his defensive coaches for making adjustments and his team being able to execute.

"(Rhoads) was just having a great first half," Lombardi said. "... Once we were able to make that adjustment, we took the biggest part of their game away."

Lodi running backs Jordan Perkins and Alex Santiago combined for 69 yards on 20 carries in the game. Perkins also fumbled once for the game's only turnover.

After the game, Rhoads said he and his teammates are going to use the loss as fuel when they take on Galt next week.

"We were just talking and we are going to show up to practice, get it done, finish 9-1 and go to the playoffs," he said.

Contact reporter Joelle Milholm at joellem@lodinews.com.

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SHELDON 25, LODI 10
Sheldon60127—25
Lodi3700—10
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
L — Fraiser 30 FG
S — Young 30 run (kick blocked)
Second Quarter
L — Santiago 3 run (Fraiser kick)
Third Quarter
S — R. Dickerson 1 run (kick no good)
S — Dixon 29 reception (kick no good)
Fourth Quarter
S — Young 5 run (Brinkworth kick)

Reader Feedback

flamefan wrote on Sep 15, 2009 8:01 PM:

" I think we all want the same thing here and that is wins. So no matter what it takes lets hope the boys get one this week. Sure everyone wants passing including myself but I would be more than happy with a win any way we get it. "

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formerfan wrote on Sep 15, 2009 8:57 AM:

" Flamefan, I think you might have misunderstood me. I was saying that there was unfair criticism of Armstrong last year that he could not throw. However, I thought he had a gun and I am sure Matt Clark thought so too. Clark was all league and could have been All-everything with a few more passes his way. There were a couple of mid to deep balls thrown Friday. One was dropped in the endzone which led to Lodi kicking a field goal in the first. The other was called back on a penalty in the second. I do have to say that the Lodi Program is making some positive strides and attempting to move the ball around. I may have to upgrade to fan. Good luck to them all the rest of the season. "

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Bulldog wrote on Sep 15, 2009 7:22 AM:

" Flamefan - why did only 30 kids go out for football? Because no matter how many go out, only a few get in the games. It is the Lodi way.

There were about 50 8th graders who played football for the Jr. Flames 3 seasons ago. There were over 40 freshmen 2 seasons ago. Last year, there were about 30 JV players. Even counting for grades, discipline issues, and injuries, we should have over 50 kids on the varsity team. Why aren't they there?

Because they get sick of putting in all that work to stand on the sidelines every game.

The mark of a great coach is not how well his best players play, but how well his least talented players contribute to the team. Lodi's least talented players are staying home and contributing nothing. 'nough said. "

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getreal wrote on Sep 15, 2009 7:17 AM:

" Out coached, this is what happens year after year. Just because you played the game, does not mean you can coach it. Year after year after year the Flames have had coachable kids, but the two "former pro players" don't know how to coach them. "

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flamefan wrote on Sep 14, 2009 7:02 PM:

" Ok well formerfan who said the qb last year couldnt throw downfield? Were you watching last year Armstrong had a gun and was fully capable and Rhoades might be able to also, but we need to try to find out. Not one downfield pass all game? cmon that isnt a balanced attack. O and did you see Santiago playing defense if you did you were at the wrong game because he didnt. Our defense will be much stronger when he gets in there. Bulldog you are totally right on the tackling thing, totally evident in second half when our lack of depth was showing and guys were cramping up and getting injured. No fault of the coaches that only 30 or so guys tried out. So lets hope the boys can get out there and get a win at Galt. Lets go Flames!!! "

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formerfan wrote on Sep 14, 2009 2:46 PM:

" sportsfan, your right, last years qb did have a gun. I bet this years qb might too. How can we tell with what we saw friday. It was a tale of 2 different halves. I agree with bulldog, we didn't tackle well, conditioning seemed to be an issue. Seemed like we had a lot of lineman going both ways. Did Perkins, Rhodes or Santiago ever come off the field? "

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fballfan wrote on Sep 14, 2009 7:45 AM:

" hey flamefan.the qb didn't throw because he was too busy getting rushed by the defense..there were more pass plays called but he didn't have time..so tell me this.if Lodi doesn't have a strong line, what makes you think the qb will have time to throw it? stick with our strength, running.lodi has the top 2 of the 3 top rushers from last year's sjaa.that's a no brainer "

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Bulldog wrote on Sep 14, 2009 7:17 AM:

" T A C K L E Football. Someone in the Lodi coaching staff forgot that they are playing TACKLE football, not touch. I ran out of fingers and toes trying to count how many missed tackles I saw.

Did anyone else notice that our best kids were all cramping up in the second half? I wonder why that was?

We let this one get away. It should have been a Win.

Hopefully, we will see better execution in Galt next week, or Piggee will run all over us.

This week's theme should be "Tackle or oh and two". "

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sportfan wrote on Sep 13, 2009 10:08 PM:

" last years qb had a gun...we just never threw....you don't need a good arm to hand off... "

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formerfan wrote on Sep 13, 2009 9:23 PM:

" flamefan, it looked like the QB was throwing well in the first half. He didn't complete a pass in the second half because they only threw it once. Stick with a balanced attack like they did in the first half and it may be a different game. Same unfair criticism as last year, QB can't throw down field. I think you have to throw to determine that. "

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flamefan wrote on Sep 13, 2009 12:27 PM:

" Good game but just like I thought when Lodi gets behind they are in trouble with no passing game. They need to be able to throw the ball downfield sometime if they want to make the playoffs. Two other qbs can get the ball downfield. They will need to be used sometime. Collin is a great fit for the offense they run but cant get it downfield. Lodi has the receivers to get open deep which would open up the groud game. Go Lodi! "

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sportfan wrote on Sep 12, 2009 11:22 AM:

" the boys worked so hard last night....that debarcle by our coaches at the end of the first half broke our back....one play in a minute and we left a timeout on the board...we had sheldon on their heals and the coaches couldn't figure out what to do....we can whine about our line all we want but that one you can't blame on the line...colin rhoads was a leader last night..put the headsets away boys let the real leaders lead "

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fballfan wrote on Sep 12, 2009 11:18 AM:

" I also don't believe perkins was the one who fumbled!! lets hope the flames get it together or it's going to be a long year "

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fballfan wrote on Sep 12, 2009 10:43 AM:

" Lodi will never win if they don't give their best player the ball!!!But that's Lodi football for ya the coaches have it all figured out great job "

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lodivice wrote on Sep 12, 2009 10:06 AM:

" Punt On First Down.....Sound's Good. "

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RUFKM wrote on Sep 12, 2009 7:12 AM:

" Why didn't our DI guy get more carries?

If he is a DI guy feed him the ball, btw, the Grape Bowl looks like a toilet bowl. These renovations better be worth it next year. "

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Curveball wrote on Sep 12, 2009 6:20 AM:

" Wow,,when put that way sounds so simple. "

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Comments on this story are now closed.

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