August 21, 1999

Calvert continues last season's strong offense

The same high-octane offense Calvert put on display last season, didn't seem to skip a step in the Senecas' scrimmage against Liberty-Benton Friday night.

Quarterback Nate Keller fired touchdown passes on Calvert's first three possessions, and the Senecas went on to post five touchdowns in about a quarter-and-a-half of timed football.

Liberty-Benton's first team offense moved virtually nowhere against Calvert's first defense.

"I thought our defense played well," said Calvert coach Toby Hammond, whose biggest worry in the preseason was his team's defense. "The most important thing is that we got the kids on tape. Now we can go look at that and get a better evaluation."

Keller found Nick Lucius from 7 yards out on Calvert's first possession, and then hit Eric Lee for a 6-yarder on the next series.

Bart Fisher made it three-for-three when he took a Keller pass and raced 45 yards for a score.

On the Eagles' next series, Lee picked off a pass and returned 40 yards for the Senecas' fourth score. Fullback Jon Raitz capped everything off with a 35-yard scoring run.

"Number one, we got some work in," Hammond said. "Number two, no one got hurt, and number three, we got to get a look at a lot of kids. Of the 22 spots we have, we're sold on about 20. The other two are between two or three kids. We'll watch the tape and see what we have.

"Liberty-Benton is a young team," he said. "So, it's not like you can look at this and say that we're that much improved over last season."

The Senecas open the regular season Friday night against Cardinal Stritch at Oregon Clay.