Lehman Catholic’s Evan O’Leary runs away from the Miami East defense on a 65-yard touchdown run Thursday night at Sidney Memorial Stadium/30&0 Field. Lehman got a 45-36 win in TRC action.
Rob Kiser|Miami Valley Today
Miami East quarterback KJ Gustin runs for big yardage Thursday night.
Rob Kiser|Miami Valley Today
Lehman Catholic receiver CJ Olding celebrates in the end zone after catching a tipped pass to score against Miami East.
Rob Kiser|Miami Valley Today
Miami East’s Jack Hamaker races to the end zone on a long touchdown pass as Viking fans celebrate.
Rob Kiser|Miami Valley Today
Lehman Catholic quarterback Turner Lachey throws the ball Thursday night.
Rob Kiser|Miami Valley Today
SIDNEY — The Lehman Catholic football team held off Miami East 45-35 Thursday night at Sidney Memorial Stadium/30&0 Field in TRC action.
The Cavaliers improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the TRC, sharing first place with Northridge. Lehman will return to Sidney Memorial Stadium Friday night to host Bethel.
Miami East dropped to 3-2 overall and 0-2 in the TRC and the Vikings will host Milton-Union Friday night.
It was wild offensive display from start to finish — that wasn’t decided until Lehman Catholic’s Daniel Carlisle hit a 30-yard field goal in the fourth quarter for the final margin.
It took the Vikings just six plays to get on the board to open the game.
KJ Gustin had a 25-yard run on the drive and threw 20 yards to Kaden Francis for the touchdown. Caleb Staley kicked the PAT to make it 7-0 with 9:58 remaining in the opening quarter.
It took Lehman less than a minute to answer.
On third and nine from the Lehman 35, Evan O’Leary went up the middle and no one touched him on his way to the end zone. Carlisle’s kick tied the score 7-7.
Lehman would recover the ensuing kickoff and on first and 10 from the East 18, Turner Lachey’s pass was tipped high in the air and CJ Olding grabbed it and ran into the end zone for the score. Carlisle’s kick made it 14-7.
The Cavaliers next possession was a two-play drive.
Lachey found O’Leary for a 62-yard touchdown and Carlisle’s kick made it 21-7 with 32 seconds still remaining in the first quarter.
Miami East would answer back with a 53-yard pass from Gustin to Jack Hamaker and Staley’s kick cut the deficit to 21-14.
Lehman would add a 10-yard TD pass from Lachey to Olding and a 13-yard TD run by Da’Ron Pride to tak a 35-14 lead.
It looked like they woud go the locker room that way when East took over on its own 4-yard line with less than a minute to go in the half.
But, on the first play, Aaron Mills broke a handful of tackles and went 96 yards down the sidelines for a score. Staley’s kick made it 35-21 at the break.
Miami East closed within 42-35 by the end of the third quarter, but Carlisle’s field goal was the only scoring in the fourth quarter.
Sports Editor Rob Kiser can be reached at [email protected]
