Rangers Lose Opener, 22 – 20 in Season Opener to Open Door

 

CAMP HILL - Lyman Ward's football team lived up to its nickname - "Fighting Rangers" - in its 2008 season opener, losing 22-20 to Open Door Christian Academy of Tuscaloosa, AL.  With fewer than two minutes remaining, first-year Ranger senior quarterback Justin Minor was tackled just short of the goal line on a two-point conversion attempt that would have tied the game.  The Rangers got a big bounce on the onsides kick, but were unable to recover, sealing the win for the visiting Eagles.  The Rangers trailed 16 - 14 at halftime, and Open Door scored to take a 22-14 lead late in the fourth quarter.  Freshman running back Justin Quinn scored on a 13-yard scamper that gave the Rangers a chance to send the game into overtime.  Senior wide receiver Kyle Johnson caught four passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns, while Minor racked up more than 100 yards of total offense on the ground and in the air, scoring the other Ranger TD.  First-year Head Coach Sheldon Ward was pleased with his team's effort in its inaugural game.  "I'm very pleased," he said.  "Our team has had only 2 ½ weeks of practice, but they came out and played the new brand of Lyman Ward football.  We're going to get better and win some games."  The Fighting Rangers return to action this coming Friday night, Sept. 5, against Coosa Valley Academy.  Kickoff is at 7 p.m. CST at Ranger Field.

 

Rangers Fight Hard, But Fall to Coosa Valley 33 - 28

 

CAMP HILL --- Lyman Ward amassed a 28-19 halftime lead against the Coosa Valley Academy Rebels on Sept. 5, but couldn't find the end zone in the second half, ultimately losing to the visiting Rebels, 33-28, in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd at Ranger Field.  Coosa Valley picked up the region win on the road against the Rangers to even its record at 1-1, while the Rangers dropped to 0-2.  Lyman Ward travels to Dixie Academy for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Friday, Sept. 12.  LWMA's first-year quarterback Justin Minor, a senior from Starkville, MS, led a balanced offensive attack in the first half.  The talented field general compiled 191 all-purpose yards (97 yards running and 94 yards passing), including a one-yard touchdown scamper in the first quarter.  Senior wide receiver Kyle Johnson of Clermont, FL, led the Rangers with two trips to paydirt, one on a 37-yard touchdown run, and the second on an exciting 80-yard kickoff return.  Freshman end David Evens of Birmingham, AL, scored for Lyman Ward in the second quarter on a three-yard reception from Minor.  Another Birmingham product, freshman running back Justin Quinn, gained 77 yards on 22 carries as the workhorse of the Rangers' running game.  Coosa Valley's senior quarterback, Whit Lovelady, had a fine game, completing 10 of 20 passes for 129 yards.  First-year LWMA Head Coach Sheldon Ward said he is searching for some consistency from his young team.  "We had 180 yards of total offense in the first half, and only 80 yards in the second half," Ward said.  "We were complacent in the second half.  We have got to find some consistency from half to half."  Ward praised the play of his offensive line, citing outstanding efforts from linemen Zavious Darling, a senior from Atlanta, and the defensive effort of Paul Lasseter, a freshman from Montgomery, AL.  "We have a lot of football left to play, so we will work hard this week in practice to improve and get better," the coach said.  "Our team is a work in progress, and once we put both halves together, good things will happen."

 

Rangers Post First Win of 2008 Season, 33 – 6 over Dixie Academy

 

CAMP HILL - After two close home losses, the Lyman Ward Fighting Rangers would not be denied on the road Sept. 12, thrashing Dixie Academy of Louisville, AL, 33-6, to improve to 1-2 overall on the young season. Dixie fell to 0-3.  The Rangers defensive unit stepped up in the second half, holding the homestanding Rebels scoreless to preserve its first win as a 1A member of the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA). LWMA scored two early touchdowns and led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter, then added two more in the second stanza to take a 26-6 lead into halftime.

LWMA tacked on seven more points in the third quarter to seal the victory. First-year senior quarterback Justin Minor from Starkville, MS, continued to perform at a high level, scoring three touchdowns, and accounting for a fourth with a pass to senior wideout Kyle Johnson of Clermont, FL.  Minor rambled through the Rebel defense for 147 yards on 18 rushes. The savvy senior has now scored nine touchdowns (five rushing and four passing) on the season. Dixie Head Coach Mack Williams praised Minor as "the difference in the game.  "Minor threw a 60-yard pass for a touchdown while rolling out to his right, and it was a perfect strike," Williams said. "It hit the kid in stride. That's tough. That kid is a heck of an athlete. He could start at quarterback anywhere in the AISA (from Class A to AAA)."  Johnson had two pass receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown, his fourth of the season.  Freshman running back Justin Quinn from Birmingham ran for 77 yards on 22 carries and one score, his second rushing touchdown of the 2008 campaign. The Rangers' high-octane offense averages 27 points per contest through the first three games.

"The win feels good," said first-year Ranger Head Coach Sheldon Ward. "We needed it. The players are pumped about it. Next week can't get here fast enough for them."  The Rangers host Cornerstone Christian on Friday, Sept. 19, at Ranger Field. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. CST. The Chargers were 30-26 winners over Coosa Valley last weekend.

 

Rangers Lose Tough Game to Cornerstone at Home 40 – 15

 

CAMP HILL - A high snap sailed over the head of Ranger quarterback Justin Minor on the first play of the game last Friday night, resulting in a safety and a 2-0 lead for the visiting Cornerstone Christian Raiders.  It got no better from there, and Cornerstone waltzed to a 40-15 victory over the home team at Ranger Field.  LWMA Head Coach Sheldon Ward said his team learned a valuable lesson with the loss.  "We got beat up and down the field tonight," he said after the game.  "This was a wake up call for us."  Minor scored the Rangers' first touchdown late in the fourth quarter with a nine-yard plunge into the end zone, and fellow senior Kyle Johnson added the extra point to make the game 40 – 7.  Lyman Ward will return home to Ranger Field this Friday night, Sept. 26, for a matchup against Abbeville Christian School.  Kickoff is at 7 p.m. CST.

 

Senior Jonson’s Outstanding Effort Not Enough to Rescue Rangers

CAMP HILL --- Even senior Kyle Johnson's 16-carry, 128-yard night could not lift Lyman Ward over the Generals of Abbeville Christian Academy, as the Rangers fell 42-14 at Ranger Field on Sept. 26.  The Rangers are now 1-4 on the season.

Johnson scored all of Lyman Ward's points on a 5-yard run in the second quarter, and a 23-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.  "Kyle is a man, he can play," LWMA Head Coach Sheldon Ward said after the game.  "He did it, but he can't do it by himself.  We need some other players to step up." Johnson and freshman running back Justin Quinn filled in for starting senior quarterback Justin Minor, who missed the game with a torn meniscus.  Quinn played most of the game over center, rushing for 35 yards on 16 carries, and completing one pass for 11 yards.  The Birmingham, AL native added an interception to his defensive performance. ACA scored on its first three drives of the game on two rushing touchdowns by running back Gabe Newman, and one rush by back Shelby Watford.  They converted all three two-point conversions and led 24-0 with 11:53 remaining in the second quarter. Lyman Ward hits the road for the next two games, playing at Crenshaw Christian Academy on Friday, Oct. 3, and at South Montgomery Academy on Friday, Oct. 10.  Kickoff times for both games is 7 p.m. CST. The LWMA eleven return to Ranger Field for Homecoming on Friday, Oct. 17.  Opponent is Ashford Academy.   The football game starts at 7 p.m. CST, followed by the annual Homecoming Dance at 9 p.m. CST in the majestic Tallapoosa Hall gymnasium.  All parents, alumni, and friends of the Academy are cordially invited to attend all festivities.

 

Rangers Lose to Crenshaw Christian 46 – 14, Drop to 1 - 5

CAMP HILL - Lyman Ward's varsity football team knew it was in for a tough battle in Luverne, AL, on Oct. 3 against the 4-1 Crenshaw Christian Cougars.  Crenshaw did not disappoint its Homecoming crowd, beating the Rangers 46 - 14.  LWMA fell to 1 - 5 on the season.  The story was virtually the same for the Rangers, who are mired in a three-game losing streak.  "We got down early, and, just like all season, we weren't able to come back," said first-year Head Coach Sheldon Ward.  "We moved the ball pretty well, but our drives just stalled.  We couldn't stop anybody on defense."

The Rangers have been playing without the services of first-year senior quarterback Justin Minor, who is still injured, but hopes to return for the Homecoming game against Ashford Academy on Oct. 17.  Ward praised the play of senior wide receiver Charles Hatcher of Mobile, AL, who caught five passes, and freshman back David Evens from Birmingham, who made some key offensive plays.  LWMA has three region games remaining on its schedule, beginning with another road test this week against the South Montgomery County Academy Raiders.  Kickoff is at 7 p.m. CST Friday night at SMCA in Grady, AL.

Rangers Win Big 29 – 8 over Ashford Academy, Improve to 2 – 5

CAMP HILL -- The Fighting Rangers football team broke a three-game losing streak in a big way last Friday night, defeating South Montgomery Academy on its Homecoming night, 29 - 8.  The win improved the Rangers' record to 2-5, and was their first victory since a 33 - 6 win over Dixie Academy on Sept. 12.  The Rangers are preparing this week to face Ashford Academy for Homecoming this Friday, Oct. 17.  Kickoff is at 7 p.m. CST at Ranger Field on campus.  "We pulled off a good one," said LWMA Head Football Coach Sheldon Ward.  "It was sorely needed and well deserved."  First-year senior quarterback Justin Minor made his presence felt in a big way, having returned to the lineup after missing several games with a knee injury.  He scored early in the first quarter on a 15-yard scamper that put the Rangers ahead 7 - 0.  The Starkville, MS native added another touchdown run in the second quarter, then found fellow senior Kyle Johnson on a 20-yard scoring pass just before halftime, to widen the Rangers' lead to 23-0 at the break.  Minor added a third scoring run in the second half to complete a solid performance in his return engagement.  Coach Ward had good words for the Ranger defensive unit, which held its opponent to just eight points after having given up more than 40 points in each of the last three games.   Led by sophomore Eric Murdoch of John's Creek, GA, and freshman Andrew Lasseter of Montgomery, AL,the Ranger "D" stepped up when needed, Ward said.

Rangers Lose Homecoming 53 – 15 to Ashford Acad., fall to 2 -6

               

CAMP HILL - The visiting Ashford Academy Falcons defeated the Rangers before a large crowd on Homecoming night Oct. 17 at Ranger Field, 53 - 15.  The Falcons, one of the strongest teams in the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA), are now 6 - 1 on the season, while LWMA fell to 2 - 6.  First-year Head Coach Sheldon Ward said the Rangers played a competitive game for the first three quarters before running out of gas in the fourth quarter.  The Rangers will be looking for their third victory of the season when they visit the Chambers Academy Rebels in Lafayette, AL, on Friday, Oct. 24.  Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. CST at Rebel Stadium.  Prior to the Homecoming game, the Rangers have been carried by senior quarterback Justin Minor, who has amassed more than 1,100 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns.  Senior running-back/wide-receiver Kyle Johnson has more than 700 yards and eight touchdowns to his credit, while freshman back Justin Quinn has added 327 yards and three touchdowns to the Ranger offensive attack.

 

Rangers Lose 46 – 0 to Chambers Academy, fall to 2-7 overall.

 

LAFAYETTE, AL - Chambers Academy (6 -3 overall, 6 – 1 region) won its sixth consecutive game here on Friday night, Oct. 24, defeating the visiting Lyman Ward Military Academy Rangers, 46 – 0.  The Rangers fell to 2 – 7 overall.  Lyman Ward's football season wraps up this coming Thursday night, Oct. 30, at home versus first-place Patrician Academy.  Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. CST at Ranger Field in Camp Hill.

 

  

Rangers Fall in Last Game to Patrician Academy, finish season 2- 8.

 

CAMP HILL - The Lyman Ward Rangers ended their 2008 campaign on a losing note, as they fell to third-ranked Patrician Academy 64-36.

"The score didn't tell how close the game was," LWMA head coach Sheldon Ward said. "It was 10 times closer." Justin Minor finished the year like he played for the majority of the season. He threw for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns, and the senior ran another in for a score.  Kyle Johnson caught two of those TD tosses, and Michael Searese caught the other for Lyman Ward.  Justin Quinn finished his solid freshman season by rushing for over 100 yards and a score for the Rangers.  Ward said two interceptions, including one that went for a score the other way, were very costly for his team.  "We opened in the I-formation and ran down their throat on the first drive and an interception killed us," Ward said. "We hurt ourselves a lot. We have got to be more consistent next season. We had an up and down year, but I'm happy with how our kids worked.  "Hopefully, we'll get a good stock of freshman, our returners will improve and we can build on this next year," Ward said.  The loss gave the Rangers a final record of 2-8.