by Dan Greenberg
Germantown Gazette
09-13-2006

Much has been made of Wheaton High’s do-it-all threat Pat Lazear.

The former Whitman standout and big-time college recruit was making his debut in a Knights’ uniform following his much publicized school system enforced transfer at the beginning of the school year. He’s awaiting trial on charges that he took part in the robbery of a Bethesda smoothie store in March.

Friday on the field, he did not disappoint, giving his team a dominant force on both sides of the ball.

However, Seneca Valley had someone a little more dominant. At least for one night. Shawn Perry, the Screaming Eagles’ pint-sized running back, produced a giant of a performance in his team’s 17-14 victory over Wheaton. He carried the ball 29 times for 196 yards, and scored both touchdowns for his team in a game where his every yard was needed.

The need for Perry’s big game resulted from Screaming Eagles head coach Fred Kim’s plan to ‘‘manage” the game, and not have to put the hands in his sophomore quarterback George Lerch (4-of-5 passing for 37 yards). While he trusts his new signal-caller, he realizes that for now, the team goes as far as Perry takes them.

‘‘I’ve got a senior stud at tailback, and George played well, but it’d be foolish of me not to go to Shawn all the time,” Kim said.

Perry’s effort helped Seneca Valley overcome a somewhat sloppy performance in which it committed 15 penalties for 155 yards. Kim was unhappy with the penalties, but also the fact the team turned the ball over twice. Those mistakes will have to be corrected when they travel to archrival Northwest this Friday.

What did impress Kim, to nobody’s surprise, was the play of Wheaton’s newest 230-pound asset. Lazear debuted in style for Wheaton, doing nearly everything on the field. He rushed 15 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns, ran a crucial fake punt for a first down late in the game, and forced a fumble on the Knights 1-yard line to snuff out a deep Seneca Valley drive.

Though Kim felt they ‘‘contained” Lazear, he’s glad his boys won’t have to face him again.

‘‘Pat Lazear is as good as he’s put on the billboard to be,” Kim gushed. ‘‘He’s a bulldozer. I remember watching film on him last year and he was doing the same types of things to people. He plays both ways and never comes out — just a hell of a player.”