Lyle/Pacelli football returns to the post-season this year and is the eighth-seeded team in the Nine-Man, Section One playoffs.
Last year, the L/P Athletics were the ones left out of the nine-team Section One. This season there are only eight teams in the section, so everybody plays a first round game.
L/P is 1-7 on the season and Spring Grove is 8-0, ranked No. 3 in the state. The two teams meet in the section quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Spring Grove.
Last week, L/P lost to Grand Meadow in the regular season finale 65-0. Spring Grove beat Mabel-Canton 51-13 to finish an unbeaten regular season.
The Athletics and the Lions met in week four of the season. It wasn't pretty for the visitors as Spring Grove came away with an 80-14 win. In that win, the Lions of Spring Grove rolled up 505 yards of total offense.
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All season long, the L/P defense has a hard time containing opponents and the result has been a number of lopsided losses. The only win for the Athletics came when they scored 50 points on homecoming. The offense must produce if this game is to be somewhat competitive on the scoreboard.
Finding consistency on offense has been a problem for the Athletics, but at times they have shown hints of being an explosive offense. L/P sophomore quarterback Jordan Hart threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first meeting against Spring Grove and he'll need to fire a few more long balls down the field if there is to be any hope in this game.
Spring Grove quarterback Blaine Storlie also threw a pair of touchdown passes against L/P in the first meeting. Matt Schleich was the top rusher in that game as the Lions rolled up 380 yards on the ground. The L/P defense must find a way to limit the points from Storlie and company, while the offense has to play mistake-free if the season is to continue.
SECTION ONE, NINE-MAN
Quarterfinals
Tuesday, Oct. 23
No. 8 Lyle/Pacelli (1-7) at No. 1 Spring Grove (8-0), 7 p.m.
No. 5 Mabel-Canton (3-5) at No. 4 Houston (4-4), 7 p.m.
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No. 6 LeRoy-Ostrander (2-6) at No. 3 Lanesboro (5-3), 7 p.m.
No. 7 Glenville-Emmons (2-6) at No. 2 Grand Meadow (7-1), 7 p.m.
Semifinals
Saturday, Oct. 27
(At High Seed)
LP/Spring Grove winner vs. M-C/Houston winner, 7 p.m.
L-O/Lanesboro winner vs. G-E/GM winner, 7 p.m.
Championship
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Friday, Nov. 2
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.
