The Washington Court House Blue Lions outscored Miami Trace 28-3 in the fourth quarter Friday night to come from behind and finish their season with a 40-33 victory.
Miami Trace led from the opening drive of the first quarter until the eight minute mark of the fourth quarter. They got the scoring started on their opening drive after they took the opening kick off to the Blue Lions 38 yard line that ended with a 38 yard touchdown catch from Dalton Mayer to Joshua Gilmore, PAT was good to put Trace up 7-0. Washington answered right back going 86 yards in 6 plays marching the ball down the field and Jamie McCane scampered 28 yards, the PAT was blocked to put the score 7-6. Trace scored once more in the first quarter on a 46 yard quarterback keeper that Mayer ran to the house to put the Panthers up 14-6. The Blue Lions scored the only points in the second quarter, another Jamie McCane touchdown run from 23 yards out on a drive that went four plays for 47 yards. Again the point after attempt was no good and we went to the half with Miami Trace leading 14-12.
The third quarter it appeared the Panthers were going to run away with the game as they outscored Washington 16-0 on two Mayer touchdown passes, one to Matthew Haddox for 27 yards that capped off a 3 play 89 yard drive and another to end the quarter on another Mayer to Gilmore TD for nine yards, throw in a Justin Shoemaker field goal and Trace was up 30-12 after the third. Then it was Washington's turn. They scored 21 unanswered points in the final period on back to back touchdowns passes from Ethan Rogers-Wright to Eli Lynch, the first was a 54 yard catch the next was for 15 yards to cut the lead to 30-26, then Rogers-Wright found Callum Brown streaking up the sideline for a 78 yard touchdown catch and just like that less than four minutes into the fourth the Blue Lions took their first lead of the game 33-30 with eight minutes remaining in the game. Miami Trace was able to crack the scoreboard with 4:30 to go in the game on a 20 yard field goal from Shoemaker to tie the game at 33. On the Blue Lions final drive of the game they road the back of their standout senior running Jamie McCane as Washington went 54 yards on six plays taking 2:35 off the clock and McCane ran one in from 8 yards out to put the Blue Lions up for good 40-33. Trace had a chance and got the ball in striking distance but Mayer was intercepted in the end zone as time expired.
For the night Miami Trace had 286 yards rushing led by Jayden LeBeau who had 16 carries for 148 yards, Dalton Mayer had 10 carries for 56 yards, Mayer also passed for 145 yards and three touchdowns on 10-20 passing. The Panthers had 431 total yards, 4 turnovers, 15 first downs and eight penalties for 80 yards. They finish the season 5-5 (2-3).
Washington had 544 total yards, 267 rushing and 277 passing. Jamie McCane led the way with 220 yards on 31 carries. Ethan Rogers-Wright was 12-23 for 277 yards and three touchdowns, Eli Lynch had two touchdowns and caught 5 passes for 91 yards, Callum Brown caught 3 passes for 106 yards and a score. They had 16 first down, 3 turnovers and seven penalties for 80 yards. The Blue Lions end the season 7-3 (4-1)