It’s a mob scene of Slicer players and fans on the Fort Wayne field after LaPorte claimed the Class 5A Semistate title. (Photo by Jen Boardman)
For the first time ever, the LaPorte Slicers will be gunning for a State Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium after defeating Fort Wayne Snider, 35-7, to claim the Class 5A Semistate crown Friday night, Nov. 21, at Fort Wayne. (Check back for more photos soon.)
LaPorte (8-5) will face Indianapolis Cathedral (8-5) at the home of the Colts on Saturday evening, Nov. 29; more details to come.
Here’s a synopsis of the Semistate victory:
1ST QUARTER
— Slicers recover a Snider fumble early in the quarter, but LaPorte is ultimately stopped at 4th and goal.
End of 1st quarter: 0-0
—————
2ND QUARTER
— Tyler Littlejohn returns a punt all the way to the Snider 37-yard line.
— Casey Cornett kicks a 13-yard field goal. Score: LP 3, FW 0.
— Slicers recover another fumble, resulting in another Cornett field goal. LP 6, FW 0
— Charles Salary runs 56 yards for a TD. Extra point good. LP 13, FW 0
— Slicers get some first downs to again approach the goal line. Luc McCarty scores TD. Extra point good. LP 20, FW 0
At halftime: LP 20, FW 0
—————
3RD QUARTER
— Gino Francesconi catches an Eric Mazany pass to near the goal line; Charles Salary runs it in. Extra point no good. LP 26, FW 0
— FW scores on a 42-yard pass play. Extra point good. LP 26, FW 7
— Linebacker Noah Boardman intercepts a FW pass and runs it back to the FW 30-yard line. Eric Mazany throws to wide-open Gino Francesconi in the end zone. Extra point good. LP 33, FW 7
— A FW punt runback for a would-be TD is called back on a holding call.
End of 3rd quarter: LP 33, FW 7
—————
4TH QUARTER
— To start the 4th, Slicers drill FW punt receiver at about the FW 2-inch line.
— Slicers get the safety. LP 35, FW 7
— Owen Strieter intercepts a FW pass. Slicers have the ball with 3 minutes left.
FINAL: SLICERS 35, FORT WAYNE SNIDER 7
They played for Jake.