LCC charges past Shawnee

LIMA — Lima Central Catholic scored 27 unanswered points to turn a close game into a dominating performance in a 27-7 win over Shawnee in the football opener for both teams on Thursday night at Spartan Stadium.

After being held to one yard of total offense and one first down in the first quarter LCC gradually took control of the game.

The Thunderbirds finished with 390 yards of total offense and held Shawnee to 169 yards overall.

LCC quarterback Carson Parker rushed for 113 yards on 29 carries and ran for two touchdowns. He was 12 of 23 passing for 222 yards and two touchdowns and had completions of 51 yards and 50 yards.

The game was tied 7-7 at halftime.

Shawnee scored early and LCC’s offense awakened in the second quarter to send the teams to their locker rooms at halftime all tied up.

After Chase Beery returned a punt to LCC’s 25-yard line late in the first quarter Shawnee needed only four plays to get into the end zone.

The score came on an 8-yard run by Jordan Banks, who had 26 yards on 8 carries in the first half.

LCC drove 62 yards on 10 plays late in the second quarter for its first-half TD.

The Thunderbirds’ score came on an 18-yard throw from Carson Parker to Sal Guagenti.

After getting only one first down in the first quarter, LCC put the ball in the air more in the second quarter and had eight first downs in that quarter.

Parker was 8 of 18 for 95 yards in the first half and also was the Thunderbirds’ leading rusher in the first two quarters with 36 yards on 12 carries.

LCC took its first lead when Parker delivered a 50-yard touchdown pass to Matthew Quatman, who wasn’t touched by a Shawnee defender on his way to the end zone for a 13-7 lead.

The lead grew to 20-7 when Parker scored on a 4-yard run with 1:18 left in the third quarter. By the fourth quarter LCC’s offensive line was opening big holes consistently.

Parker finished the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown run with 3:03 left in the game. That TD was set up by a 51-yard pass to Payne Cutlip.

LCC played without junior wide receiver Billy Bourk, who is expected to miss several games because of a collar bone injury.

Reach Jim Naveau at 567-242-0414.