SIDNEY — The Lehman Catholic football continued its march to a Week 10 showdown with Northridge for TRC title.

But, Covington did not make it easy as a young Buccs team continued to play hard and battle in a 35-7 loss to the Cavaliers in a game that was a one score game much of the first half.

Lehman, 8-1 overall and 5-0 in the TRC, will host Troy Christian Friday before traveling to Northridge in the regular season final. The Polar Bears are also 5-0 in the conference and have a tough matchup with Milton-Union Friday.

Covington, 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the TRC, will travel to Riverside Friday night.

A 50-yard pass from Turner Lachey to Evan O’Leary on Lehman Catholic’s first play had moved the ball to Covington’s 12-yard line.

But, the drive ended with the first of two Day’Lynn Garrett interceptions.

When Lehman got the ball back, they continued to use explosive plays in the passing game to get on the board.

They went 58 yards in eight plays, with Lachey finding CJ Olding in the middle of the field and Olding taking it to the end zone for a 45-yard touchdown.

Lachey’s kick made it 7-0 with 3:04 remaining in the first quarter.

Midway through the second quarter, Lehman added to its lead.

The Cavaliers went 67 yards in four plays.

Lachey found Da’Ron Pride with a short pass along the sidelines and Pride took it to the end zone for a 55-yard touchdown. Lachey’s kick made it 14-0 with 6:45 remaining in the half.

Covington would answer back with a four-play, 65-yard drive.

Landin Cassel completed passes of 15 yards to ’Lynn Garrett and Garrett Leistner to start the drive.

After a Jordan Miller run, Cassel found Garrett for a 20-yard TD in the corner of the end zone. Parker Wyatt’s kick made it 14-7 with 3:11 remaining in the half.

Lehman would threaten on its next possession, but the Covington’s defense made a goal-line stand and took over on its own two-yard line.

Covington could not move the ball and Lehman got it back at the Covington 36-yard line with 1:36 remaining in the half.

Lachey completed passes of 17 yards to Olding and 11 yards to O’Leary to set up a back-breaking seven-yard TD pass to Dillon Schmiesing. Lachey’s kick made it 21-7 with 29 seconds left in the half and that is the way the team’s went to the locker room.

In the second half, Lachey would throw touchdown passes of four and 46 yards to O’Leary and added the PAT kicks to make the final 35-7.

While Covington would limit Lehman to 23 yards rushing, Lachey completed 20 of 34 passes for 395 yards.

O’Leary caught nine passes for 170 yards, Olding caught four passes for 93 yards and Da’Ron Pride caught three passes for 75 yards.

Dillon Schmiesing led the defense with 13 tackles and O’Leary had eight tackles.

Miller led the Covington rushing attack with 77 yards on 17 carries.

Cassel completed 10 of 28 passes for 126 yards, with Garrett catching six passes for 74 yards.

Leistner led the Buccs with 11 tackles, Miller had 10 tackles and Jack Blumenstock had nine tackles.

Sports Editor Rob Kiser can be reached at [email protected]