Lima Central Catholic’s Gabe Cira looks to get around Connor Gaynier of Delphos St. John’s during Friday night’s Division VII playoff game at Spartan Stadium.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
LIMA – Lima Central Catholic’s offensive unit took a little while to warm up.
However, once the T-Birds found their rhythm, Delphos St. John’s could not slow them down.
After a scoreless first quarter, LCC got its offense in gear, and pulled away for a convincing 48-14 victory over Delphos St. John’s in a Division VII, Region 26, regional quarterfinal football game at Spartan Stadium Friday night.
Lima Central Catholic (8-4) will take on McComb (11-1) in a regional semifinal next Saturday at 7 p.m. at a site to be determined. St. John’s ends its season, 5-7. McComb defeated Pandora-Gilboa in a regional quarterfinal Friday night, 26-21.
“They (Delphos St. John’s) did a really good job (defensively),” LCC head coach Scott Palte said. “They really attacked us in the first quarter. … We were on our heels. We couldn’t get anything going. Credit them for their game plan.”
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Lima Central Catholic is the No. 4 seed. Delphos St. John’s is the 12th seed.
After a scoreless first quarter, LCC raced out to a 27-0 lead by the halftime break.
LCC rolled up 181 yards of offense in the first half. St. John’s managed to record just 19 offensive yards and one first down in the first 24 minutes of action.
The T-Birds ended the game with 182 yards on the ground. LCC quarterback Carson Parker was 7 of 18 passing for 120 yards and two touchdown passes. Parker also rushed for 52 yards on 16 carries and had two TDs.
Billy Bourk led the T-Birds with three catches for 77 yards and two TDs.
On the ground, Gabe Cira rushed for 67 yards on eight carries and had one TD run for the T-Birds.
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In the first quarter, neither team could sustain a drive. There were six punts (three for each team) in the first 12 minutes of action. The game was scoreless at the first stop.
LCC finally put a long drive together.
The T-Birds mounted a 12-play, 66-yard scoring drive. Matthew Quatman capped off the drive for LCC with a 2-yard run. With the extra point by Michael Taflinger, the T-Birds led 7-0 with 9:24 left to play in the first half.
LCC struck again.
The T-Birds covered 31 yards in just two plays. Parker ran it in from three yards out to score. With the extra point, LCC led 14-0 with 7:35 left in the half. In the first half, Parker rushed for 41 yards on 13 carries.
LCC was not done.
With 3:49 left to play in the half, Parker connected with Quatman (three catches, 42 yards) for a 26-yard TD pass. The extra point was no good, and LCC led 20-0. In the first half, Parker was 6 of 16 passing for 79 yards.
Then, with just 22 seconds left in the half, Parker capped off a quick 5-play, 26-yard scoring drive with a 7-yard TD run. With the extra point, the T-Birds led 27-0.
“Our defense did a tremendous job,” Palte said. “We got the wind in the second quarter; and we were able to throw the ball better. It really swung there. We were able to score and get some three-and-outs. We made them punt into the wind, and that gave us some short fields. The game turned there in the second quarter.”
St. John’s started the second half on a strong note.
On the first possession, St. John’s running back Clay Paddubny (15 carries, 107 yards) broke loose for a 71-yard TD run. With the extra point by Braylon Metzger, LCC led 27-7 with 10:31 left in the third quarter.
LCC had an answer.
On the T-Birds’ next series, Parker connected with Bourk for a 41-yard TD pass. With extra point, LCC led 34-7 with 9:31 left in the third.
Then LCC’s defense got in the act.
With four minutes left in the third quarter, Matthew Quatman intercepted a pass from St. John’s quarterback Grant Ulm, and ran it back 41 yards for a TD. With the extra point, LCC led 41-7. Ulm ended the night, 7 of 18 passing for 72 yards, and the one interception.
The T-Birds added another score, right before the end of the third quarter.
Gabe Cira ran it in from 17 yards out. With the extra point, LCC led 48-7, heading into the fourth.
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Blue Jays mounted a 65-yard scoring drive on eight plays. Paddubny capped off the successful drive with a 6-yard TD run. With the extra point, LCC’s lead was cut to 48-14.
“Great job by our defense and our special teams,” Palte added. “We did a great job of just being aggressive and controlling the line of scrimmage. … Just a great effort.”
For the game, LCC recorded 12 first downs. St. John’s moved the chains just six times on the night.
“We have some really nice targets,” Palte said. “We have some guys who can get open and take advantage of some of those chances. Great job of execution by Carson (Parker), Billy (Bourk) and Matthew (Quatman).”
Mark Altstaetter wrote this story for LimaScores.com. Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
