GALION — Braxton Stuckman scored three touchdowns and a huge third quarter pushed Galion to a convincing 41-10 dismissal of Lodi Cloverleaf in Friday night’s Division IV, Region 14 playoff game at Heise Park.
The second-seeded Tigers get yet another home game next week against No. 6-seed Sandusky Perkins (9-3). The Pirates are riding an eight-game winning streak after dispatching No. 3 seed Napoleon 31-0 on Friday night.
Galion has a seven-game streak of its own, and Stuckman made sure the playoff odyssey will continue for at least another week.
The Tigers (10-1) broke on top in the first quarter when Stuckman plunged in from a yard away to cap a 49-yard march and give the hosts a 7-0 edge with 6:35 remaining in the first period.
Luke Susteric’s 28-yard field goal shaved the margin to 7-3 heading to the second quarter, but that was the Colts’ lone score until the matter was already decided.
Stuckman’s second touchdown, a 10-yard jaunt late in the second period, sent Galion to the intermission with a 13-3 advantage.
Coach Matt Dick might want to bottle that halftime talk, because Galion put this one away with a dominating third period.
On the second play of the second half, quarterback Ayden Schmidt rocketed 63 yards on a keeper to expand the gap to 20-3.
That bolt of lightning opened the floodgates.
The Tigers’ defense stoned Cloverleaf and Zach Sallee blocked the ensuing punt which Dominic Capretta pounced on in the end zone for a 27-3 bulge.
Stuckman’s third TD came next on a 3-yard romp for a 34-3 margin, triggering the running clock.
Camden Kuehlman dashed 23 yards for yet another score and a 41-3 spread going into the fourth quarter.
The Colts tacked on a TD in the final period, but it was too little too late.
Lodi Cloverleaf finished the season with a 7-5 record. This was the Colts’ first season in the playoffs.
(Photos by Tom Theodore)
