South Range falls short in second half

The Raiders' season ends at 13-1.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
FREMONT -- North Lima's celebration of Dan Yeagley's 100th coaching victory will wait one more year.
The shootout Yeagley's South Range football team hoped to avoid in Friday's Division V state semifinal game materialized early on as Patrick Henry's potent offense more than lived up to its advance billing in a 48-28 victory on an icy field at Don Paul Stadium.
"You can't make mistakes against a good team," Yeagley said. "We were moving the ball a little bit, but then we had a turnover and you can't do that at this point in the season."
The Raiders kept pace for most of three quarters and took a 28-27 lead when Yeagley rolled the dice on fourth-and-9 at the Patriots 15.
Raiders senior quarterback Mike Leskosky found wingback Tom DeChellis unguarded near the goal line for the tying points.
"I was just looking to get the first down, but then he got open deep," Leskosky said.
Pat Majernik's extra-point gave South Range its only lead.
Patriots' response
But the Patriots (14-0) responded with 21 unanswered points to earn their first state title berth and end South Range's season at 13-1.
The Raiders' one-pont lead quickly evaporated as the Patriots marched 63 yards on eight plays.
Two penalties helped set up Drew Kuesel's 1-yard touchdown with 0:48 to go in the third quarter. Zack George's conversion pass to Marc Krauss gave the Patriots a 35-28 lead.
Chased deep into the pocket, Leskosky's off-balance throw moments later was picked off by Krauss at midfield and returned to the 15.
"He broke on the ball well -- he's a great player," Yeagley said.
Patriots coach Bill Inselmann said the pickoff "was the turning point of the game because we went up two [touchdowns]. I saw the air come out of their sails then."
Four plays later, Kuesel scored from the 1 for a 41-28 lead. Krauss' extra-point kick was wide right.
"It takes a lot out of you when you score, but they score," Raiders fullback Kris Davis said. "Boy, I wish we had one more week of practice. I would have love to practice one more week in this kind of weather."
After a three-and-out series, the Patriots sealed the victory on Kuesel's 20-yard touchdown with 3:21 to go. Setting up the touchdown was a fake punt 14-yard run by George.
Tied at 21 at halftime, Inselmann was comfortable with the high scoring.
"We wanted to score and put pressure on them, and we scored on our first drive," Inselmann said of his halftime strategy. "That was important -- our kids just don't quit and they don't get rattled."
The Patriots needed just six offensive plays in the third quarter to regain the lead. Zack Bonner shed a tackle to score a 16-yard touchdown for a 27-21 lead. A high snap on the attempted conversion kick led to an incomplete pass.
Kuesel scored four touchdowns and rushed for 95 yards. George completed 19 of 27 passes for 254 yards.
"They have a great running game, too," Yeagley said. Everybody talks about their quarterback and receivers, but they have four good running backs."
Staying in the game
Big plays by Leskosky, running back Matt Schlatter, fullback Kris Davis and wide receiver David Rach kept the Raiders in the game in the first half. Jordan Razo intercepted George twice to thwart to scoring opportunities.
Schlatter's 45-yard return of the opening kickoff gave the Raiders the first chance. But Majernik's 24-yard field goal attempt was blocked by defensive end Clint Creager.
The Patriots drove 81 yards on nine plays, the big one being a 26-yard over-the-shoulder catch by Krauss at the South Range 7. Two plays later, Bonner ran into the end zone from the 2 for a 7-0 lead.
After a facemask penalty on the Patriots, Leskosky and Schlatter teamed up to burn the Patriots for a 55-yard touchdown pass.
Schlatter raced into the Patriots' secondary and was unguarded when he pulled in the ball on the run at about the 15.
Both teams made turnovers on their next possessions. Krauss intercepted Leskosky at the Patrick Henry 25 and returned it 22 yards.
The giveaway triggered the Patriots' second score, a 12-yard run by Kuesel with 8:24 to go before halftime.
But 16 seconds later, the game was tied again as Davis ripped through the Patriots' line for a 57-yard touchdown.
After the game's first punt with three minutes to go before halftime, the Patriots appeared to have the Raiders on the ropes, marching 71 yards on 10 plays and scoring after a roughing-the-passer penalty. George hit Brian Yarnell for a 20-yard touchdown and 21-14 lead with 23 seconds to go before the break.
But the Raiders showed their resiliency when Leskosky hit Rach at the Patrick Henry 36 and he raced into the end zone for a 21-21 tie.
"Their offense -- everyone said they were good and they proved that tonight," Schlatter said. "You can't take that away from them."
Leskosky completed seven of 16 passes for 192 yards. Davis rushed 15 times for 113 yards.
"It was a fun time," Leskosky said. "This is not what we wanted but we set our goals high."
williams@vindy.com