Lima Central Catholic’s Caden Falke upends Tiffin Calvert’s Jacob Rombach as Issac Leppert helps with the tackle during Friday night’s Division VII playoff game at Spartan Stadium. See more high school football photos at LimaScores.com.
Don Speck | The Lima News
LIMA – Lima Central Catholic had its offense on steamroller mode for its playoff opener.
The result was an LCC pounding of Tiffin Calvert 41-14 in the opening round of the Division VII, region 26 playoffs Friday at Spartan Stadium.
LCC (7-4) advances to the regional quarterfinals where it will play Delphos St. John’s (5-6), a 55-24 winner against Arlington, at 7 p.m. next Friday at Spartan Stadium.
Calvert ends its season 6-5.
LCC led 20-0 after the first quarter and 34-0 at the half.
The T-Birds used the running of Gabe Cira and quarterback Carson Parker.
“Gabe ran the ball well,” LCC coach Scott Palte. “He runs hard. We ran him more as the season has gone on. He had more carries tonight than Carson (Parker).’’
They also went with the right arm of Parker.
And there was plenty of defense along the way.
For the night, Cira had 12 carries for 90 yards with an 8-yard TD.
Parker completed 8 of 11 for 196 yards and one TD.
On the ground, Parker had eight carries for 59 yards. He ran for two TDs (1 and 5 yards).
Billy Bourk had three catches for 99 yards for LCC.
Matthew Quatman had four catches for 89 yards.
LCC also held Calvert’s leading rusher, Cal Warnement to 35 yards on seven carries. Jacob Rumbaugh had 49 yards on eight carries.
The first time LCC touched the ball, the T-Birds went 58 yards in four plays for the score.
Parker turned the right corner on a keeper for a 42-yard gain.
That took the ball to the Calvert 8.
Cira then turned the right side for an 8-yard TD run.
That gave LCC a 7-0 lead with 10:31 left in the first quarter.
Calvert lost a fumble on its next drive and Matt Cira recovered for LCC at the LCC 25.
On the first play after the fumble recovery, Parker faked the ball to Cira, then faked a quick run. After the option fakes, Parker then hit a wide-open Bourk in stride for a 75-yard TD.
“Carson’s a good runner so you have to respect the run and he hit Billy with the pass,” Palte said. “Then he came back later with it (the same play) and hit Matt (Quatman).’’
That gave LCC a 13-0 lead with 6:53 left in the first quarter.
On Calvert’s next play, quarterback Harry Shultz’s pass was picked off by Parker at the Calvert 41. Parker went down the sideline for a 41-yard TD on the interception.
That gave LCC a 20-0 lead with 6:45 left in the first quarter.
Parker next strolled in on a 1-yard TD to cap a six-play, 23-yard drive.
LCC held a 27-0 lead with 9:31 left in the second quarter.
Parker connected with Quatman for 53 on the same play as earlier, fake the option run, and fire.
That took the ball to the Calvert 7.
Two plays later, Parker ran it in from the 5 to give LCC a 34-0 lead at the 2:35 mark of the second quarter.
At the half, Cira had 10 carries for 77 yards.
Parker completed 5 of 7 for 155 yards. He threw for one TD and ran for two.
The T-Birds also three interceptions at the half, including two by Parker.
LCC led 41-0 after three before Calvert scored two TDs in the final 6:46 of the game against many of the LCC second-line players.
For Calvert, quarterback Shultz completed 12 of 28 for 185 yards. He threw three interceptions.
Wide receiver Billy Clouse had six catches for 113 yards.
Tom Usher wrote this story for LimaScores.com. Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
