COLUMBUS — The most important play in Lucas football history didn’t exist before Saturday night.
Quarterback Logan Niswander hooked up with Riley Mounts on a 13-yard scoring strike on fourth-and-goal with 54 seconds remaining as the Cubs rallied for a stunning, 15-12 win over Harvest Prep in the Division VII state semifinals at Columbus DeSales’ Alumni Stadium.
Lucas (12-2) will play Maria Stein Marion Local (12-2) for the Division VII state crown at 10 a.m. Saturday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton Marion Local pounded Patrick Henry 40-6 in the other semifinal game at Lima Spartan Stadium.
“We kind of drew it up in the dirt to be honest with you,” Lucas coach Scott Spitler said. “It worked to perfection. It’s just two kids making a play and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Harvest Prep (12-2) took a 12-7 lead when quarterback Josiah Carroll found Rashaun Goines for a 76-yard touchdown pass with 7:35 remaining in the contest. The ensuing kickoff landed in the end zone and the Cubs took over at their own 20-yard line on the touchback.
That’s when Niswander went to work. The senior ripped off a 45-yard dash down to the Harvest Prep 6 before the Warriors’ defense stiffened. The Cubs were thrown for losses on each of the next three running plays, setting up fourth-and-goal and forcing Spitler to call timeout and dig into his bag of tricks.
“We knew they were so aggressive playing over the top so fast,” Spitler said. “I thought we could get a throw back.”
Niswander wasn’t so sure.
“‘Spit’ called that play and in the back of my mind (I thought) this isn’t going to work. We’re done for,” Niswander said. “I saw Riley slip out and I’m like ‘There’s no way this is going to be open.’ I throw the ball and he catches it.
“That was backyard football.”
The pass was just the seventh of the night for Niswander.
“We never pass, so that’s insane,” Mounts said. “Then ‘Spit’ believing in me to do it … then Logan had a great ball and I went up and got it.”
The game was scoreless before the Cubs struck midway through the third quarter. Ethan Sauder took a hand-off from Niswander, ran around the left end and outraced the Harvest Prep defense for a 75-yard touchdown.
The Warriors answered when Javon Eggert scored on a 5-yard run with 2:05 remaining in the third. Harvest Prep went for two, but the conversion run failed and Lucas held a 7-6 lead. It would stay that way until Goines’ catch-and-run gave the Warriors a 12-7 edge.
“We know that if we come together and we do our jobs and believe in each other we can do it,” Mounts said. “That’s what happened.”
Niswander was 4-for-7 passing for 31 yards and rushed for 35 yards on eight carries. Tommy Zirzow ran for 98 yards on 27 carries, while Sauder had seven carries for 84 yards.
The Cubs will play for the first team state title in school history.
“We’ve clawed back from being down before,” Niswander said. “I knew we could do it. It was fantastic. I’m so proud.”
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