The “first times” keep on racking up.
Indian Lake kept the postseason adventure going as they knocked off #1 seed Jamestown Greeneview 28-13 on Friday night in the Region 20 semifinals.
The Lakers now advance to a regional final for the first time in team history. They are 11-2 and have won eight in a row.
Indian Lake built a 14-0 lead on a pair of touchdowns by Quest Clay. Greeneview responded with a big play of their own to set up a score with 23 seconds left in the half.
Brodey Reisinger then broke off a 43-yard reception to score as time expired, and the Lakers went in with momentum on their side.
They extended the lead with a touchdown by Drake Cosby to open the fourth quarter. The Rams answered with an interception return for a score, but could not get any closer.
“The coaches put out a phenomenal game plan,” said Indian Lake coach Jonn Rapp. “The kids picked it up and executed well. Our defense was super stout. Our offense was very timely. It was a really good team effort.”
The Lakers defense continued its predatory ways, with two interceptions and a fumble recovery. That gives them 12 takeaways in three playoff contests.
“It’s something we focus on during the year,” said Rapp. “The heightened level of everything is the biggest contributor. The lights are a little bit brighter, but they are not shying away from those lights.”
For Indian Lake, Lillard completed 18 of 28 passes for 225 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception. Clay had 11 catches for 131 yards, with scores of 58 and 1 yards, and Reisinger pulled in five balls for 88, almost half of that coming on the 43-yard score.
On the ground, Cosby had 15 runs for 60 yards and Lillard picked up 20 yards on 12 carries.
Greeneview, which ends the year at 12-1, was led by quarterback Alex Horney, who ran 19 times for 183 yards. Chase Walker (6 for 36) and Cooper Payton (7 for 51) also contributed.
Horney was held to 5 of 16 passing for just 50 yards, with the longest completion at 25 yards.
After stopping Greeneview on downs early in the contest, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Lakers pushed them back to their own 12.
Clay made a catch to convert for a first down at the 42 yard line. Two plays later, Madden Lillard tossed a deep ball to Clay, who found an opening and raced 58 yards for the game’s first score with just under three minutes to go in the frame.
On the ensuing possession, Greeneview started at the 20. On the final play of the first period, Alex Horney ran a draw that got a first down near midfield.
However, Clay then picked off a pass by Horney to give the Lakers the ball at their own 22.
Following a few gains, Reisinger made a catch at the Rams 47 to convert on third down. The Lakers used a combo of runs by Cosby and throws to Reisinger to get to the 30.
On fourth and 5, Clay made a grab of 18 yards, then had a 10-yarder for first and goal. After the Rams defense held on three runs, Lillard went back to the hot hand, hitting Clay with 3:30 to go in the half.
The teams exchanged punts, and Greeneview got the ball back with 1:05 to go in the half. Horney finally broke loose, going from his own 31 all the way down to the Lakers’ 2-yard line. Chase Walker punched it across, and the PAT cut the lead to 14-7 with 23 ticks left.
That turned out to be just enough time for the Lakers. After the kickoff, the Lakers got across midfield and called timeout with three seconds left.
Lillard dropped back and fired to Reisinger. The sophomore outhustled the Rams defenders and used all of his 6-foot-2 inch frame to reach the end zone. The PAT by Kolten Cummins made it 21-7 in Indian Lake’s favor at the break.
“That’s my favorite part of the game,” said Rapp. “We let them get down and get one (score). Everybody’s going to make mistakes. Early in the season, that bad feeling would have lingered. They were able to snap right back.”
Greeneview got the ball to open the second half. Two big runs by Horney put them in the red zone at the Lakers’ 19. A bad handoff cost them five yards, and the Lakers held three more times, including tackling Horney for a loss on fourth down.
The rest of the third quarter was a series of short drives and punts for both sides.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Cosby had a 1-yard touchdown and the point-after gave them a three score advantage at 28-7.
Greeneview’s ensuing drive lasted five plays before an option play led to a fumble and recovery for the Lakers.
Indian Lake mostly kept the ball on the ground to drain time off the clock. After reaching the Rams’ 34, Lillard was hit while making a throw.
Greeneview’s Walker intercepted the ball and ran it all the way back for six points with 5 ½ minutes to go. The PAT was no good, leaving it 28-13.
An onside kick attempt by the Rams was covered by the Lakers at midfield. They were able to gain some ground before having to punt.
Greenview had to start deep in their own end at the 13. Horney was able to complete a couple of passes but his final attempt was intercepted by Lillard with 1:11 left.
The Lakers will face West Liberty-Salem, which held off Waynesville 45-42, in next Friday’s regional final at a site to be announced Sunday.
“We get seven more days of football.,” said Rapp. “I’m not ready to be done. Our routine stays the same. Everybody is pulling in the same direction.”
