By:: Sports Editor Grace Plonski
It was a cold and snowy evening at Steele Stadium last Friday. The Cavemen went helmet to helmet against Lowell High School for the IHSAA Football regional championship. The Cavemen beat the Red Devils 28-14, advancing to Semi-State.
Offensive line coach Mike Buchmann said, “We try to coach each week and play each play like it could be your last at any time. We try to emphasize the importance playing without any worries, especially about making mistakes. We want the guys to fall back on the things we have trained them to do. If you have to think about what to do in varsity football, it’s already too late.”
The Cavemen had a 14-play drive that happened in the minute of the first quarter at their own 22 yard line. But at the Devil’s 15, Sam Shively pitched to Junior Donovan Snyder, but Snyder was inches short of the first down. Controlling the ball for 16:36 to 7:27 for Lowell, the Cavemen took a 7-0 lead at halftime.
With under eight minutes left, the score tied at 14-14, the Cavemen were fourth down at the Lowell 34 yard line. Shively faked the ball, passing to senior halfback Brad Taylor. Taylor raced to the end zone, giving the Cavemen the lead.
Harness sealed the deal with a 77 yard touchdown on a third and two with under two minutes to go, bringing the score to 28-14. Lowell to the lead from the kickoff and traveled to Mishawaka’s 14. Once they were fourth and 14, linebacker Nick Davis stopped Lowell’s quarterback, Ethan Ignas, eight yards short of the first down.
Tonight, the Cavemen will host the IHSAA football Semi-State at Steele Stadium against Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger.