De La Salle handles Lane with ease
BY  MICHAEL WOJTYCHIW                                                                                                August 26, 2011

It took longer than De La Salle would have expected, but the Meteors finally picked up school victory No. 400. And they did it in grand fashion. Sophomore running back Mikale Wilbon rushed for 260 yards and four touchdowns, all in the first half, as the host defeated Lane 35-7 in their season debut.

“We’ve been working real hard here and our linemen played great here,’’ said Wilbon, who was making his first start on the varsity level. “I knew we were going to have a good start and our season was successful so that wasn’t that big of a surprise.’’

Wilbon started the season with a bang as he took a handoff on the first snap of the year and raced 75 yards to the end zone, untouched for at least the last 40.

The sophomore wasn’t done however. On De La Salle’s next drive, he carried the ball six times and was rewarded with a three-yard touchdown run.

The Meteors were more than just ‘The Wilbon Show,’ however. The Meteor defense stifled Lane and allowed just four first downs in the first half.

After the defense shut the Indians down again, Wilbon took two handoffs, one of which he took for an 83-yard touchdown.

“What’s great about De La Salle is that the coaches show no favoritism and if you’re good enough, you’re going to play. I knew all I could do is my best and it would end up ok,’’ said Wilbon.

Wilbon scored his fourth and final touchdown with 6:30 left in the second quarter, as he raced 60 yards down the right sideline.

“We knew he had talent,’’ De La Salle coach Dan O’Keefe said. “You can just see it in his eyes. He’s the player that wants to keep going after the whistle. That’s what separates him from the others.’’

Backup quarterback Casey Brandtonies accounted for the last De La Salle touchdown, rolling out and taking the ball in from 15 yards out.

Elijah Ewacawon had 86 yards on 22 carries and the lone Lane score on a 3-yard burst late in the fourth quarter.