Making the playoffs once since 2003, in recent seasons Lake Park had a greater propensity to shoot itself in the foot than to cap a victorious comeback.

Yet last Saturday the Lancers (8-2) shook off the state's longest road trip to rally from 14-0 and 21-14 deficits and defeat No. 8 Belleville East 22-21 in the Class 8A first-round game.

When quarterback Larry Nawrot followed Artie Monaco's touchdown run at 1:31 of the fourth quarter with a 2-point conversion pass to Clay Cooper, it marked the ninth-seeded Lancers' third comeback victory this year.

Those things don't just happen. There's a reason Lake Park captains Nawrot, Monaco, Alex Fischer, Charlie Perrecone and Ryan Gerts have molded a group that believes it's a family and which scores touchdowns in the red zone rather than commits a holding penalty and then fumbles.

"It's a lot like the 2003 (8A semifinal) team in that it may not have had all the talent of some other Lake Park teams - or whatever school - but because they played together they got further in the playoffs," said coach Andy Livingston.

"There was less ego involved in that year. I think that's a lot of what it is about this group. They're willing to sacrifice whoever gets the yards, sacks, tackles, to the whole. It's a lot nicer that way."

In a funny coincidence, that 2003 group began the postseason with a 46-42 comeback win over Fremd, the school that now stands in the way of Lake Park's 8A advancement.

The 10-0 Vikings, coached by Mike Donatucci, have earned their No. 1 seed and a 15th straight playoff trip on the strength of a plus-23 turnover ratio, a 200-point scoring margin and a school-record 1,945 yards and 26 touchdowns from senior Even Wright. Notre Dame recruit Christian Lombard - a 6-foot-6, 295-pound "man-mountain," Livingston said - leads the charge.

Gerts' return from mononucleosis will bolster a defense that starts on the line with Perrecone and Matt Kaiser ahead of linebacker Justin Kang, Lake Park's tackles leader with 113 and 13 for loss.

If another rally is needed, they'll try to get it done.

"They won't give up on each other, that's for sure," Livingston said. "I'd rather them stick together and be ahead, that'd be nice."