RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - The Cordova Lancers have seemingly found themselves a good recipe for success through their first two games of the season. Run the ball effectively on offense, play an aggressive style of defense that generates turnovers and make sure senior playmaker Troy Simmons gets his hands on the football. 

Those three ingredients have put together quite the product for the Lancers thus far, including during a 35-16 victory against visiting Kennedy inside Lancer Stadium on Friday, Sept. 4. 

Cordova (2-0 overall) pounced on the Cougars (0-2 overall) early, taking a 22-0 lead into halftime after their top two senior playmakers, running back Trey Wallace and cornerback Troy Simmons, came out and immediately put their stamp on the game.

Starting quarterback Terryn "TK" King gets a pass off behind a nice block by Trey Wallace. 

Simmons, who had a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown during the Lancers’ first game of the season one week prior, put together quite the encore performance. He scored the Lancers’ first points of the contest on yet another interception, which he returned nearly 60 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter. The play saw Simmons lined up at left cornerback and pick off the pass from Cougars' sophomore quarterback Ismeal Jimenez near the left sideline, then juke and jive his way through multiple Kennedy players trying to take him down. He eventually found daylight up the left sideline and took the turnover into the endzone, eerily similar to the way he did it the previous week. 

“When I’m going for the ball I think that I just gotta finish,” Simmons said afterward when asked about what went through his mind during the past two games while returning interceptions for scores. “I just go 110-percent every single time and I just gotta finish. That’s the goal.”

Junior wide receiver Ethan Benitez makes a reception and takes the ball downfield for a first down.

Additionally, senior running back Trey Wallace continued to do what he’s always done well for Big Red, and that's run the football. Wallace scored two touchdowns on the ground in the first half against Kennedy, including an electrifying 77-yard sprint up the right sideline with just seconds remaining before halftime. Wallace, who finished the game with seven carries for 104 yards and the two scores, is also playing part-time quarterback along with fellow senior Terryn "TK" King to keep defenses guessing. 

In the second half, both King and Wallace would connect with the aforementioned Simmons for long scores as he got his chance to shine on offense as well. In the third quarter, Wallace hit Simmons on a 51-yard post route for a score, however King was not about to be outdone. King, who finished 8-of-13 passing for 91 yards, connected with Simmons on a 53-yarder of his own midway through the fourth quarter. 

Senior running back Zachary McIntire is brought down after a long gain against Kennedy.

Following the game, Lancers' head coach JP Dolliver was asked about the hot start to the season from Simmons, who has been the standout thus far for Cordova.

“He’s a real special player,” Dolliver said. “A pick and two touchdowns. That’s two games now where he’s run one back for us. He's a firecracker. He's an explosive player. He's just a great kid who has fit in right away.”

For Kennedy, senior running back Keyontae Littlepage led the way with 20 carries for 85 yards. The Cougars would score on a safety and two touchdowns in the second half, but the Lancers were never threatened in this one.

Junior place kicker Esaul Covarrubias kicks a PAT against Kennedy.

Defensively for Cordova, senior Zach McIntire and junior Gino David each tallied nine tackles apiece to lead the team. Junior defensive lineman Jeremiah Platero notched eight tackles of his own and also recovered a fumble and returned it 48 yards into Cougars' territory in the second quarter. The aforementioned Trey Wallace also registered a sack to round out an all-around impressive performance.

The Lancers will return to action this week Friday, Sept. 18 for their first road game of the season at Rio Americano. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Senior running back Trey Wallace crosses the goal line for a touchdown against Kennedy.