For the second year in a row, the La Salle Lancers met the Anderson Raptors in the Division II playoffs.
Last season, La Salle rolled to a 55-30 victory at home. This time, the two teams met in Anderson, where the Raptors were a perfect 6-0 so far this season. It didn’t matter; the result was the same.
The sixth-seeded Lancers cruised to a 45-21 win Friday night to keep their season alive and end Anderson’s once again. They’ll advance to face Winton Woods in the eighth region semifinals next week after the Warriors pulled off an upset of their own to get past second-seeded Kings.
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The game started inauspiciously for La Salle, as senior quarterback Cam Cope threw a pick right into the hands Anderson’s Max Muehlencamp on the opening drive. However, the Raptors returned the ball on downs shortly after, and the Lancers took advantage with a six-play scoring drive. Junior Jaylen Grant ran the ball in from 10 yards out, his first of four touchdowns on the night.
In the second quarter, Anderson’s high-powered offense was stymied yet again by the Lancers' physical defensive front, as junior quarterback Griffin Scalf was repeatedly knocked down and pressured into throwing an interception of his own. A Mason Luensman field goal and a short touchdown by Davay Hill gave La Salle a 17-0 lead in the blink of an eye.
“We were physical, that was our game plan,” La Salle coach Pat McLaughlin said. “We wanted to win the line of scrimmage, and we did that. We didn’t give up any big plays.”
The Raptors managed to get on the scoreboard before the half, as Scalf led them 83 yards down the field before handing it off to senior Evan Upchurch for a one-yard touchdown. After the break, Scalf orchestrated another quick drive that ended in a 13-yard scoring toss to senior Brody Foley, delighting the home fans and bringing his team within three. But that was as close as they would get.
On the very first play of the ensuing drive, Grant broke loose for a thunderous 75-yard touchdown, extending La Salle’s lead to 24-14. After a quick punt, they added another score as Cope ran it in from five yards out, pushing their advantage back to 17. The crowd was briefly silenced.
Anderson responded with a 50-yard kickoff return, followed by a 24-yard strike to the end zone, both of which came thanks to Upchurch’s legs. But the Lancers took the wind out of their sails with a 12-play, seven-minute drive spanning multiple quarters that ended in Grant reaching the end zone once again.
The final period spelled disaster for the Raptors, as a turnover on downs, a roughing the punter penalty and a second interception proved to be more than enough for La Salle to put the game away. Their season ended in disappointment much like last year’s, but it wasn’t without its bright spots.
“The goal was to play in November, and we got two home playoff games this year,” Anderson coach Evan Dreyer said. “I think that was key for us as we move forward and take our program to new heights.”
The Raptors can look forward to the return of Scalf, who finished the year as the Eastern Cincinnati Conference’s leading passer with 38 touchdowns and more than 3,500 yards in the air.
“That’s a good football team,” said McLaughlin, whose team finished just 5-5 in the regular season playing in the ultra-competitive Greater Catholic League. “You play a tough schedule, you just hope it prepares you for the postseason, for games like tonight, and I think it did.”
That difficult schedule was likely the reason why La Salle only earned a six seed in the bracket, despite beating the likes of Colerain, Winton Woods and Louisville Trinity during the regular season.
“I think we’re showing who we are still,” Cope said. “As a six seed, I don’t think it really matters, we’re just gonna keep playing football.”
With another playoff win in the bag, the Lancers will do just that as they face Winton Woods Nov. 12 in the next round.
More:Tyrek Spikes runs, throws Winton Woods past Kings in Division II regional quarterfinals, 31-21
La Salle – 7 10 14 14 – 45
Anderson – 0 7 14 0 – 21
LS – Grant 10 run (Luensman kick)
LS – Luensman 33 FG
LS – Hill 6 run (Luensman kick)
A – Upchurch 1 run (Brooke kick)
A – Scalf 13 pass to Foley (Brooke kick)
LS – Grant 75 run (Luensman kick)
LS – Cope 5 run (Luensman kick)
A – Scalf 24 pass to Upchurch (Brooke kick)
LS – Grant 1 run (Luensman kick)
LS – Grant 1 run (Luensman kick)
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