Cornerback Lard wins end-zone jump ball to help Beamer shut down Kent-Meridian

Defensive prowess reigned supreme in a battle of 4A SPSL preseason favorites with Todd Beamer grinding its way to a 20-6 victory over visiting Kent-Meridian on Friday.

“They’re generally a high-scoring team,” Beamer coach Darren McKay said. “They’re used to scoring a lot of points. That’s part of running the football. That keeps that team, that likes to go no-huddle, and keeping their quarterback and those guys on the sidelines, that plays into our favor.”

Beamer, which limited the Royals of Kent-Meridian to two red-zone opportunities, was aided with the play of the night.

Up 6-0 in the second quarter and with the Royals on a 65-yard drive to the Titans’ 5-yard line, Kent-Meridian quarterback Benjamin Woods threw a fade route to back of the end zone for star receiver Emmanuel Daigbe.

In the jump-ball situation, Beamer senior cornerback Isaiah Lard came down with the ball while managing to get a foot down to secure the touchback.

“The redeeming part about it was Isaiah was the one who kept letting him (Daigbe) inside,” McKay said of the previous plays leading up to the interception. “He made a heck of a play. That ball could’ve gone to either one of those guys.”

On the offensive side, Beamer’s Andrew Tofaeono powered his way for tough yards all game long.

A 6-foot, 210-pound senior, Tofaeono finished with 164 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns.

“He does it on both sides,” McKay said of Tofaeono. “Sometimes you don’t get to see it on defense and don’t notice how many tackles he has. Last week, he had 15. He’s our pounder and Isaiah gives us a little bit (of) wiggle.”

For Kent-Meridian, Daigbe was a star.

Daigbe, who was a wrestling state champion in the 195 weight class last year, finished with 114 yards on six catches despite a few costly drops early on.

Senior Shamar Malik Woolery also had a strong game before going out injured.

Beamer will play next Saturday against Mount Rainier while Kent-Meridian will face Kentlake next Friday.

This story was originally published September 18, 2015 at 11:45 PM with the headline "Cornerback Lard wins end-zone jump ball to help Beamer shut down Kent-Meridian."