Snider had its chances to put Hamilton Southeastern away Friday. The Panthers persevered and finally got the upset, 38-21, over the Royals for their first regional championship since 2004.
The Panthers (9-4) led 14-0 but Brandon Phelps was picked off three times, including a couple of times in the red zone, and Hamilton Southeastern tied the score at 14. Neither team could score in the third quarter, but John Nelson scored one of his four touchdowns for a 21-14 Panthers’ lead as they outscored the Royals 24-7 in the fourth quarter.
“It helped us out a lot,” Phelps said of the go-ahead touchdown. “We were kind of down, and once we got ahead again we were like we can do this. We were never really out of it, but we kind of get down on ourselves too quick. We have to learn to stay in the game.”
Luers goes to air
This is what Bishop Luers’ first four offensive plays looked like Friday night in a 44-23 regional victory over Tipton: James Knapke pass to Tyvel Jemison for 30 yards, Knapke pass to Matt Williamson for 9 yards, incomplete pass, Knapke pass to Michael Rogers for 6 yards and a touchdown.
If you think that means Luers coach Matt Lindsay had his eye on the sky, you’re right.
“We’d gotten away from it a little bit because the last month of the season we made a little more commitment to the running game,” he said after Knapke threw for 159 yards and four touchdowns in just three quarters. “And I think getting away from the passing game affected how we were executing. We wanted to come out and throw the ball tonight. And we did pretty well.”
Leo in semistate for 2nd straight year
Thanks to a 24-12 Class 4A regional road win over NorthWood, the Lions are headed to a semistate for a second straight year. Even though last year’s loss came in Class 3A, to South Bend St. Joseph’s, the Lions feel more prepared for success this year.
The Lions play host to South Bend Washington next Friday in a semistate.
“A lot of us have a lot of experience now, and we’ve been in this situation before. We just have to keep doing what we’ve been doing and get it done,” said senior Taylor Horn, a running back and defensive back.
