Round 3 | Le-Win vs Aquin
Freeport -
We knew Saturday was going to be a game between 2 very storied programs, but one of those teams were the #1 ranked and undefeated Lena-Winslow Panthers. The Aquin Bulldogs knew what the uphill battle was going to be, but I don't think they envisioned it to be the way it was.
Le-Win scored on their first play of the game behind All-State running back's Rahveon Valentine's opening play 69 yard TD run, and the Panthers were off as they were up 21-0 just 4:51 into the game. A big pass play from Ty Chrisman to Isaiah Bruce for 40 yards gave the Panthers a 28-0 lead with 3:21 still remaining in the 1st quarter.
The Bulldogs would respond though, as Cooper Arndt connected with Zac Cummins for a 33 yard TD pass to bring the score to 28-7 at the end of the 1st quarter.
The Panthers would respond to that Bulldog score quickly, as they drove 65 yards in 47 seconds and capped the drive with a Gaige Schwartz 3 yard TD run to extend their lead to 34-7. The Bulldogs were desperately trying to stay in it, and on their very next drive Arndt hit Cummins again on a quick slant, and Cummins was off to the races for a 79 yard TD run to make the score 34-14 with 10:50 still to play in the half.
But it was all Panthers the remainder of the half as they put up 4 more scores as Valentine and Sean Ormiston both scored twice each on runs and then on passing connections from Chrisman to take a 60-14 lead into the half.
Halfway through the 3rd quarter Gaige Schwartz busted off a 55 yard TD run to push the score in favor of Le-Win 67-14, and cap the scoring for Le-Win on the day. The 67 points Le-Win put up tied the Class 1A All-Time record in a playoff game, set by rival Forreston in their 1st round game just a year ago.
Aquin would get on the board 2 more times, but with the running clock in place and Le-Win subs in the game it just wasn't enough on this day as the Panthers cruised to a 67-28 win and earn their place in the semifinals for the 4th time in school history, all of those coming in the last 9 seasons.
On the day, Le-Win finished with 517 total yards of offense to Aquin's 378 yards, with 386 yards coming through the air. Le-Win had 501 yards at the half.
Aquin finishes the season with a 9-3 record as they made their run to the quarterfinals in back to back to seasons.
Le-Win improves to 12-0 on the year and will face Forreston (11-1) in the semifinals at 2 pm next Saturday in a conference rematch that Le-Win won 28-14 back in week 2.