Lakiem Lockery

When the Scotch Plains football team visits the Irvington Blue Knights today there will more than enough incentive to go around for any member of the Raiders who remember the bitter taste of last years’ 18-9 defeat, which cost the team the Watchung Conference title and was their only regular season loss. But a player who wasn’t even on the field that day, senior running back Lakiem Lockery, may have more motivation than anyone else.

Lockery was born in Irvington and after moving to Scotch Plains at the age of two, moved back to Irvington and lived there until he was a seventh grader. Needless to say, there will be a number of familiar faces on the other side of the ball and in the stands that will wish Lockery good luck but will be hoping for a different result.

Lockery missed last years’ game with an injured ankle that forced halfback Kyle Baker to carry the ball 27 times, far more than normal. The Raiders were clearly not as effective on offensive without Lockery’s outside explosiveness, which re-emerged in a scintillating playoff performance at Sayreville when he gained 172 yards to pace an upset victory.

“It was frustrating to not be able to play against so many people I knew. I wanted to be out there helping us win,” recalled Lockery.
“It doesn’t matter how many yards I gain as long as we win.”

“Every team has to find its identity. We haven’t found ours yet, but its games like this that help you find out how good you are,” said Scotch Plains Coach Steve Ciccotelli.

“We have a lot of new people this year but there are also a lot of returning players that want to avenge the loss last year.”

With Baker and blocking fullback Travis Boff graduating, Lockery has taken on a larger role in the first two games. He relies on fullback Tony Curry to provide the blocks he needs to get outside and take advantage of his blazing speed. As any wise back will do, Lockery is quick to compliment the men in the trenches, Center Kevin Urban, tackles Marc Fabiano and Leroy Anglin and guards Justice Evans and Ted Acosta.

“Without those guys it’s hard to gain much yardage,” said Lockery.

Coach Steve Ciccotelli notes an improvement in Lockery this fall. “He’s running much tougher this year. He’s willing to take the punishment to get the tough yards inside,” said Ciccotelli.

Although his 77-yard scamper in the second period was the headline grabber another run later in the quarter may have been his most impressive. Lockery took a handoff to the right side and slithered through the smallest of holes bouncing off several Westfield tacklers before gaining 34 yards to set up the final touchdown.

Lockery smiled when recalling the run.” I don’t know how I kept going. I was just looking for running room ,” said Lockery.

Overall, Lockery wound up with a career high 196 yards in only 16 carries against Westfield. He realizes the increased role he plays on the team. and what’s at stake on Friday.

Despite his competitiveness and his desire to avenge last year, Lockery will renew acquaintances when the game ends. “It’s always good to go back home,” said Lockery. “I ‘ve been waiting for this game for a long time.”

He won’t be alone.

SPF 27 Westfield 0

Showing what a difference a year can make, Sean Smith of Scotch Plains Fanwood High School, turned a close game against Westfield into a one sided 27-0 Raider victory Sunday at Gary Kehler Field in Westfield. With the Blue Devils threatening to score a touchdown that would cut into a 13-0 Raider lead, Smith, who suffered through an injury filled season on the cross country team last fall, intercepted a Mike Patella pass in the flat and returned it 92 yards for a touchdown that made the score 20-0 and all but ended Blue Devil resistance. The victory improves the Raiders to 2-0 with both victories on the road and drops the Blue Devils to 0-2 with both losses at home.

On a sun baked windy afternoon, a day after the remnants of Hurricane Ivan had postponed the game, the teams battled through a scoreless, evenly played first sixteen minutes before the Raiders exploded with all 27 of their points in the final eight minutes of the half.

Lakeem Lockery, who rumbled for 186 yards against Westfield in last year’s 27-7 Raider win, stunned the Blue Devils when he took a handoff from quarterback Dan LaForge to the right, got a great block from fullback Tony Curry and easily outran the Westfield secondary for a 77 yard score.

“ It was power sweep,” said Lockery. “The line did a great job opening up a hole and Tony (Curry) took out the linebacker. The line did everything for me. I just had to run.”

After a Westfield punt, the Raiders were back to their big play antics again. LaForge hit LaMont Hunt over the middle for a 46-yard gain to the Westfield 18. On a third down from the two, LaForge called his own number and pushed his six-foot three inch body over the goal line to make it 13-0.

Westfield came back strong, with Patella connecting with Bryan Power for 30 yards and Marc Dowling gaining another 11 to the Raider 19. That’s when Smith cinched the result by stepping in front of Power and using his superb speed to race down the left sideline untouched. There was 3:46 left in the first half but the game for all intents and purposes was over.

“We’ve run that play a million times in practice,” said Smith.
“It’s a play action with a pass to the split end. I recognized what they were doing and guessed right.”

“That was the game right there,” said Westfield Coach Ed Tranchina.
“We were going in to make it 13-7 and instead they made it 20-0. It was very hard for us to recover from something like that.”

“Sean’s a diamond in the rough for us, a real great addition to the team,” said Raider’s coach Steve Ciccotelli. “I’m glad he made the right choice this fall to play football.”

Smith had played football his first two years, but his success in numerous events in track convinced him that he needed to improve his endurance and that cross country would better complement his track skills. Smith won four events in the Union County championships last spring and appears headed to greatness in track.

“Football is a different kind of pain,” said Smith. “I really love the sport and am happy to make a contribution. The guys have made me feel a part of the team.”

Ahead 20-0 the Raiders were still not done, forcing a demoralized Blue Devil squad to punt again. Taking over the ball with less than two minutes left, the Raiders still had time for more explosions. Lockery slipped through the smallest of holes, juked a couple of Blue Devil defenders and carried a few more on a wondrous 34 yard run that put his team in range again. Curry, known more for his blocking and defensive efforts, added an exclamation point to the incredible second quarter when he took a handoff at the two, seemed to be initially stopped but through second and third effort was able to get into the end zone.

The second half allowed Ciccotelli to substitute liberally as his defense led by Mike DiNizio, Curry, Mark Fabiano, Kevin Urban and LeRoy Anglin among others gave Westfield some yardage but was able to hold when needed. The offense was unspectacular but was able to chew up valuable clock time. Westfield wound up with 150 yards of total offense, 46 less than Lockery would gain.

In addition to Smith and Lockery, Ciccotelli had high praise for his offensive line, especially Anglin and Justis Evans, both in their first year starting on the offensive line.
“We played a great game today,” said Ciccotelli. “They played a full 48 minutes and that’s what we need each week.”


The Raiders face their toughest test to date today when they travel to Irvington for a 3 pm. game. The Campers handed the Raiders their only regular season defeat last year, 18-9.