On the last play of the first half, senior quarterback Blane Branscum dropped back to make a play for the Falcons, but the pocket collapsed, and he fumbled the football. Lancer’s senior defensive lineman Preston Farmer recovered the fumble and ran it into the endzone for a 46-yard touchdown to end the first half.
The scoop-and-score helped the Lancers build a comfortable lead of 49-7 at the end of the half which remained the final score of the District semifinals, Nov 8.
Lafayette (10-1) will host Washington (8-3) in the District final, Friday, following the Blue Jays’ upset win over Eureka (9-1), 14-13 in the other District semifinal. A meeting with the Wildcats would have been the a rematch after the Lancers 15-30 loss to them Oct, 11.
If the Lancers win, it will be the first time the football team has won the District championship since 2012, where they beat Eureka 13-7.
The game started slow as both teams failed to score on their first possessions. However, Lafayette quickly took control of the game after senior quarterback Jack Behl connected with senior wide receiver Robby Preckel for a 68-yard touchdown.
QB Jack Behl connects with WR Robby Preckel on a huge Touchdown pass! pic.twitter.com/rlZazEdL0z
— The Lancer Feed (@thelancerfeed) November 9, 2024
On the next drive, junior wide receiver Brady Micek caught a 13-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 14-0.
WR Brady Micek runs over a defender to get into the endzone. Touchdown Lancers! pic.twitter.com/P3heCQnYXk
— The Lancer Feed (@thelancerfeed) November 9, 2024
The Falcon’s (8-3) found their lone touchdown of the game on the first play of the next drive, after Branscum found junior wide receiver Rowan Johnson for a 80-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit by seven, 14-7.
Lafayette responded by scoring 35 unanswered points to end the half and finish the game. This also included two defensive touchdowns.
The first touchdown was scored by senior defensive back Drew Austermann, who caught Summit’s blocked punt and took it to the endzone to make the score 35-7. The other touchdown was by Farmer who recovered a fumble and scored.
Punt is BLOCKED and taken to the house for 6 by Drew Austermann! pic.twitter.com/HYKU8CAMM4
— The Lancer Feed (@thelancerfeed) November 9, 2024
Preston Farmer walks through the fumble that turned into a touchdown. pic.twitter.com/VeLdrxENiv
— The Lancer Feed (@thelancerfeed) November 9, 2024
The Lancer defense held the Falcon’s to 237 total yards, and 12 pass completions.
Behl threw for 377 yards and 4 touchdowns, including a 40-yard flea-flicker pass to his brother senior linebacker and running back Alex Behl.
Preckel had 140 total yards and 3 touchdowns, and Micek had 56 total yards and a touchdown. Sophomore running back Cody Keen also played a role with a total of 61 yards.
WR Robby Preckel runs over a defender on his way to the Endzone Touchdown Lancers! pic.twitter.com/DLCt6BzAix
— The Lancer Feed (@thelancerfeed) November 9, 2024
Terrence Bills stays in bounds for the Lancer Touchdown! pic.twitter.com/dNapEJNDhH
— The Lancer Feed (@thelancerfeed) November 9, 2024
Touchdown Lancers! QB Jack Behl —- WR Cody Keen pic.twitter.com/SBa4jxIBs5
— The Lancer Feed (@thelancerfeed) November 9, 2024
Drew Austermann speaks on his performance tonight. pic.twitter.com/kqQ3qAVAwh
— The Lancer Feed (@thelancerfeed) November 9, 2024
Head Coach Manne reflects on the team’s performance and the memories made this season. pic.twitter.com/BF5XOaSPFA
— The Lancer Feed (@thelancerfeed) November 9, 2024