It took overtime for the best two teams in class 2-1A to decide the state champion. LaCrosse opened the game fron Lewis Field Stadium in Hays, with the ball but could not do anything with it and were forced to punt. Centralia was also forced to punt on their first attempt in the game. LaCrosse fumbled on their second possession and the Panthers took advantage. They would score three plays later on a 22 yard touchdown run by Johnny Steinlage to take a 6-0 lead. And that would be the score after one quarter.
LaCrosse got on the board with 11:17 remaining in the second quarter when quarterback Tayler Stull found Kip Keeley for a ten yard touchdown pass that capped off a 15 play 80 yard drive and with the PAT LaCrosse led 7-6.
The Leopards defense then forced a turnover on downs and scored two plays later on a Levi Morrs 31-yard touchdown run for the Leopards to take a 14-6 lead heading into halftime. Unfortunately for LaCrosse they would not score again in the game.
On LaCrosse’s second possession of the second half they fumbled the quarterback center exchange in the endzone and Centralia picked up a safety to close the gap to 14-8 LaCrosse. Centralia tied the ball game at 14 at the 5:09 mark in the fourth quarter on a Michael Glatczak eight yard touchdown run.
LaCrosse got the ball all the way down inside the Pathers one yard line after an 80-yards wide receiver reverse pass from Austin Webs to Clayton Basgall but fumbled the exchange for the fourth time in the game and Centralia took the game to overtime.
In the overtime LaCrosse won the coin toss and chose to play defense first. After getting stopped on first and second down Panthers quarterback Michael Glatczak hooked up with Johnny Steinlage in the endzone for a ten-yard touchdown pass to take a 20-14 lead. LaCrosse would have their opportunity at answering the Pathers but they could not get it done and Centralia earned the 20-14 win.
Centralia outgained LaCrosse 292-291 but the big difference in the game was LaCrosse turnovers. LaCrosse fumbled six times, four on qb-center exchanges, and they lost three of them. Centralia’s Michael Glatczak rushed for a game high 153 yards and one touchdown. Johnny Steinlage added 102 yards and one touchdown on the ground and another receiving for the Panthers. Levi Morss had a LaCrosse team high 74 yards rushing and scored one touchdown. Kip Keeley caught one touchdown pass and had 47 yards rushing in the game.
Centralia finished 10-3 on the season and won their second state title in three years while the LaCrosse Leopards ends the season 12-1.
LaCrosse coach Jon Webster’s Post-Game Comments
Jon Webster-Post Game INT State
Post-Game Wrap up
wrap
Game Highlights
highlights