Bears open playoffs with blowout win
LAUREL — The No. 1-ranked Laurel- Concord-Coleridge Bears defeated the 16th-seeded Mead Raiders 68-20 in first-round playoff football action last Thursday in Laurel.
“We have taken the approach that all of the teams qualifying for the playoffs are good football teams, and that you have to play well each game in order to win,” said LCC head coach Alan Gottula.
The Bears’ tenacious defense got off to a familiar start as it forced Mead to an early three-and-out on its opening drive.
The ensuing Raider punt was flanked by senior Dan Puppe, who sped past several Mead defenders and put LCC in the red zone early, setting the stage for a 25-yard touchdown run by quarterback Dylan Taylor.
After the score and successful twopoint conversion, the Bears were on top 8-0. The following Raider drive met a quick fate similar to its first with another three-and-out ending in a punt.
Mead showed a few small bursts of energy on its next defensive stand stopping the Bears on third and short, before Puppe once again shook off several Raider defenders, going up the middle for a 30-yard touchdown run and giving LCC a 14-0 lead after the failed two-point try, which is where the score remained through the end of the frame.
“Mead has a great quarterback who is effective running and throwing the ball,” Gottula said. “They also have a big running back who is an aggressive middle linebacker, who can really put some speed on the edges, which can always be problematic.”
The second quarter of action saw the Raiders’ offense come to life. The very first play quarterback Luke Carritt found Keegan Converse in the end zone for Mead’s first score of the contest, making it 14-6 after the missed point-after try.
The Bear offense fired back a few possessions later as Taylor, under an immense load of pressure from the Raiders’ defense, located wide receiver Jake Rath for a 10-yard TD strike.
The next Mead offensive effort had a beautifully executed touchdown pass called back on a personal foul, causing the Raiders to lose possession and punt.
The Bears marched right back down the field, leading to another 10yard touchdown trot, this time off the heals of Sutton Ehlers.
The second quarter ended, but not without Carritt scratching out two more scores for the Raiders, narrowing the Bear lead to 10 at the half.
“We have an experienced football team that typically is very business-like in terms of preparation,” Gottula said. “ Our emphasis is always on ‘Do your job,’ and we remain focused on trying to get better in all phases of the game.”
The Bears, fired up after the break, came out and quickly planted a 45--yard touchdown pass on the Raiders’ defense as Taylor found a wide-open Puppe down the field for the score.
Not long after that, the wheels began falling off the wagon for the Raiders as they coughed up several p0ossessions.
Following a pair of Puppe touchdowns and another by Taylor from 45 yards out, the Bears put the exclamation point on the opening night’s playoff game with a 36-yard touchdown run by running back Caleb Erwin, giving the Bears the dominating 68-20 victory.
Next up for the Bears, as they continue their explosive run through October, will be a second-round matchup with 15th-seeded Weeping Water in Laurel Friday night.
LCC 14 16 24 14 — 68 Mead 0 20 0 0 — 20 LCC Mead Pass 16-108 8-23-144 Rush 45- 342 28-73 Total 61-450 51-217 PASSING LCC-Dylan Taylor, 9-16-108.
RUSHING LCC -Sutton Ehlers, 13-109; Dylan Taylor, 12-93; Caleb Erwin, 6-81; Dan Puppe, 8-54; Connor Korth, 1-5. Mead- 28-73 RECEIVING LCC- Dan Puppe 4-69; Jake Rath 2-20; Carter Kvols 3-19.
TACKLES LCC- Sutton Ehlers, 10; Kolby Casey, 5; Connor Korth, 4;Aaron Bloom 4; Carter Kvols 3; Shane Benson, 2; Dylan Taylor, 1; Dan Puppe, 1; Miles Forsberg, 1; Ryder Jelinek, 1; Landen Leonard, 1; Gibson Roberts, 1; Braydyn Urwiler, 1; Brock Koranda ,1; Jaylen Carpenter, 1.
