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Senior tailback helps Lebanon upset Vandalia

Running back, playing sick, piles up 264 total yards, four touchdowns.

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By B.J. Bethel, Staff Writer 12:46 AM Saturday, October 15, 2011

VANDALIA — Lebanon football coach Shawn Lamb just finished talking to his Warriors, a team that had upset Vandalia Butler 34-8 on Friday night. Reflecting on his team’s effort, he almost did a double-take.

Two weeks ago, after a 25-point loss to Xenia and with their season at a crossroads, Lamb asked his team to respond. The answer has come in victories.

“I’m flabbergasted,” Lamb said. “Two weeks ago, we had a very bad loss. We talked about at that point, we had two ways we could go. We could finish out the year right, or we could tuck it in and go home. I couldn’t be more proud of our kids the last two weeks. We’ve played the best football of the season.”

That effort included big plays, and a big effort from senior tailback Aaron Abbott. Playing sick, and with a fever on Friday, Abbott carried the ball 18 times for 173 yards and three touchdowns. He caught a 91-yard touchdown pass from Luke Morgan in the fourth quarter.

“When I think of a Lebanon Warrior, I think of a kid like him,” Lamb said. “He battles for four quarters whether he’s feeling well or whether he’s sick. He’s a smart kid, he’s a great young man — he’s a warrior.”

Abbott’s biggest play was out of Lebanon football lore. Leading 7-0 in the second quarter, and on first down, the Warriors ran the hook-and-ladder. Morgan connected with receiver Nick Esposito, who pitched to the speedy Abbott, who ran the rest of the way for a touchdown. The play gave Lebanon a 14-0 lead.

Lebanon won the state title in 1998 by scoring in the final minute with a hook-and-ladder play. Since then, it has become a Warrior staple, one put to good use Friday.

“We’ve run it for years and we hadn’t run it this year,” Lamb said. “It was first down. It was the perfect time to do it because they weren’t expecting anything like that. Trick plays are supposed to take you by surprise and that one did.”

Lebanon is hoping to continue surprising the GWOC South. The Warriors are 1-1 in the division and one loss behind leader Fairborn. Lebanon battles the Skyhawks at home next Friday.

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