Lima Central Catholic’s Mylon Cowens makes a reception against Crestview’s Hunter Jones duirng Friday night’s Division VII playoff game at Spartan Stadium.
Don Speck | The Lima News
Just call Lausen Flores The Igniter.
In the final minute of the first half of its 44-28 win over Crestview in a second-round Division VII football playoff game on Friday night, Lima Central Catholic had just taken a figurative punch that if not a knockout was at least dizzying emotionally.
Thanks to a 60-yard pass interception return for a touchdown by Bryson Penix, Crestview took its first and only lead of the game at 14-9 with 54 seconds left in the first half.
Up to that point, it had been kind of a take one step forward, take a step back kind of game for LCC (8-3).
But that all changed when Flores, a freshman kick returner for the Thunderbirds took 81 yards worth of steps down the sideline, up the middle of the field at Spartan Stadium and then into the end zone for a kickoff return touchdown 10 seconds after Penix’s pick six.
That gave LCC a 16-14 halftime lead and it took control of the game in the second half to advance to a match-up against McComb next Friday night.
“Our freshman kick returner really ignited us. I think that was the spark,” LCC coach Scott Palte said.
“From that point on I think we played really good football. We needed that spark. He’s a great athlete and made a big play,” he said.
Running back Matthew Quatman, who led LCC in rushing with 107 yards on 14 carries, said, “We were down and we needed someone to make a play. He really stepped up and gave us the boost we needed.”
LCC had 377 yards of total offense and 245 of those yards came in the second half. And 74 percent of the Thunderbirds’ rushing yards were in the final two quarters.
“Give them credit, they really came out and got after us in the first half. They’re a good football team. I knew it was going to be a tough game,” Palte said about Crestview, which finished its season with a 5-7 record.
Maybe the biggest difference between the two halves was the ability of LCC’s offensive line to win the line of scrimmage consistently in the second half.
“Going into the second half we made a lot of adjustments. They were lined up in things we didn’t practice all week but we adjusted and made it happen,” offensive lineman Gianni McKee said.
Quarterback Carson Parker ran for 92 yards on 18 carries and was 6 of 15 for 178 yards passing. He ran for three touchdowns on plays of 4 yards, 19 yards and 1 yard. His longest pass completion went to Caden Falke on a 65-yard catch and run.
Quatman, who Palte calls an all-purpose back, rushed for two touchdowns and caught two passes, including a 42-yard play.
He also added a new item to his all-pupose resume when he sacked Crestview quarterback Penix in the end zone for a safety in the first quarter.
“I’ve never done that in all my years but that felt good for sure,” Quatman said.
LCC scored on its first possession of the second half and went up 23-14 on Parker’s 19-yard touchdown run.
Crestview responded with a 71-yard touchdown run by Braxton Leeth to cut the lead to two points, 23-21, the next time it had the ball.
But from there, LCC gradually pulled away, with its defense also raising its level of play in the second half.
“I thought we got lined up better, we were more aggressive and really did an excellent job defensively in the second half,” Palte said.
Reach Jim Naveua at 567-242-0414.
