LUCAS — Richland County’s lone remaining football team is one not many people outside of Lucas expected to be playing in Week 12.
The sixth-seeded Cubs (7-4), thanks to Saturday’s wild 37-34 road win over No. 3 seed Plymouth, will play No. 2 seed Berlin Center Western Reserve at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in a Division VII, Region 23 semifinal at Red Rider Stadium in Orrville. Western Reserve (10-1) advanced with a come-from-behind 27-17 win over No. 7 Toronto.
The win was the first-ever playoff victory for the Cubs. Lucas lost to Mogadore in the first round in 2000 under Jerry Miller and in 2006 under Joe Lewis.
“The victory meant a lot to a lot of people. We have been there twice before and come up short,” Lucas coach Scott Spitler said Monday. “You could tell by their reaction. There was a lot of euphoria.”
Lucas trailed 28-7 in the third quarter of its regional quarterfinal at Plymouth and 34-21 in the fourth before pulling even at 34-34 on Logan Spahn’s second fourth-quarter touchdown run. The Cubs forced a turnover and were poised to take the lead, but running back Mason Galco fumbled the ball through the end zone for a touchback.
Undeterred, Galco picked off a pass on Plymouth’s next possession. Rueben Luna then booted the game-winning 25 yard field goal as time expired.
“Mason didn’t let that fumble get to him,” Spitler said. “He was able to get a pick to help us win the game.”
Western Reserve trailed Toronto 14-12 at halftime and 17-12 midway through the third before scoring the final 15 points. Senior quarterback John Clegg scored on a 1 yard run keeper late in the third to give the Blue Devils the lead and freshman running back Jack Cappabianca added a 54 yard run early in the fourth.
Clegg rushed for 117 yards and threw for 88 yards and a score.
“We’ve looked at them on film and they are very good,” Spitler said. “We’re going to have our hands full.”
The winner of Saturday’s game will play either top-seeded Norwalk St. Paul or No. 4 seed Mapleton for the regional crown on Nov. 22. St. Paul beat Mapleton 34-28 in Week 9 of the regular season.
“I’m not sure a lot of people expected us to be in this position,” Spitler said. “Our kids believe in themselves. We have been building confidence throughout the season.”
