»RELATED: Regional Semifinal Scoreboard
»RELATED: Regional Semifinal Roundup
The Eagles (9-3) took possession of the ball trailing 21-20 and put together a game-winning 11-play, 76-yard drive. Peltier, coming off a five-touchdown performance last week against Alter, awakened from his second-half struggles, completing a pair of vital passes to keep the drive alive.
A perfect back-shoulder throw to Dominic Wilcox near the left sideline picked up 24 yards and a first down, and a right-sideline pass to tight end Colin Downing converted a critical third-and-4 to put the Eagles in the red zone.
“He’s a special player,” CJ coach Marcus Colvin said. “I always feel like we have a chance because he’s our quarterback.”
Peltier completed 21 of 33 passes for 254 yards, three touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. Wilcox, his top target, caught seven passes for 106 yards and two scores. Wilcox’s touchdowns gave the Eagles leads of 7-0 and 20-7, respectively, in the first half.
Despite the numbers, the CJ defense was called upon to shut down a New Richmond offense that put up 21 second-quarter points to take a 21-20 lead into the break. While the Eagles’ offense struggled to find a rhythm in the second half, the defense held the Lions scoreless despite three drives inside the CJ 25-yard line.
“In a game like this, we just can’t be that sloppy in the red zone,” New Richmond coach Patrick Burke said. “In a heavyweight game of this caliber, you can’t afford to come away with nothing when you get that close.”
The Lions (9-3), led by explosive quarterback Josh Anderson, squandered three different opportunities to perhaps put the game out of reach for CJ.
On a second-and-goal from 12, Anderson threw an ill-advised ball into the end zone that was tipped and eventually intercepted by Joseph Greene. On their next drive, Anderson was stopped on a fourth-and-2 from the CJ 22.
“We were able to slow him down, but that quarterback (Anderson) is special,” Colvin said. “Coming in, I thought he was good, but he was even better than that in person.”
Anderson did the bulk of his damage in the second quarter. He finished the contest with 137 yards on 22 carries and a pair of rushing touchdowns. He completed just 9 of 18 pass attempts for 144 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. His second pick, on the first play after Peltier’s game-winner, sealed the Lions’ fate.
A 6-0 second-half scoring advantage for CJ was in stark contrast to an explosive first half. Peltier and the Eagles offense were hardly impeded through the first 12 minutes, taking a 14-0 lead on completions to Wilcox and Downing. Downing caught five passes for 75 yards to go along with his score.
Trailing 20-7 after Wilcox’s second touchdown of the night, a 24-yard catch, and a missed PAT, the Lions came to life in the second quarter and took their first lead.
Anderson’s second touchdown run, a 2-yard run, cut the lead to 20-14, and his lone touchdown pass, a 6-yarder to Chandler Kinhalt, put the Lions on top 21-20.
“It’s Week 12 high school football,” Colvin said. “This is what it’s all about.”
With Week 12 complete, the season moves into week 13 where just eight teams remain in each division. The Eagles know they have a big task ahead of them when they face Trotwood-Madison.
“We played those guys in a 7-on-7 in the summer, so we know just how good those kids are,” Colvin said. “But for right now, we’re going to soak this win in and enjoy ourselves.”
As unexpected or unlikely as this run for seventh-seeded CJ may appear, Peltier feels no surprise at his team’s run.
“I’m not surprised that we’re here, with this group of guys,” he said. “We have a bunch of tough, hard-working fighters on this team. I believe in these guys.”
New Richmond 0-21-0-0—21
Chaminade Julienne 14-6-0-6—26
C: Dominic Wilcox 15 pass from Ryan Peltier (Zachary Bridgett kick)
C: Colin Downing 14 pass from Peltier (Bridgett kick)
N: Josh Anderson 1 run (Luke Lytle kick)
C: Wilcox 24 pass from Peltier (Kick failed)
N: Anderson 2 run (Lytle kick)
N: Chandler Kinhalt 6 pass from Anderson (Lytle kick)
C: Peltier 5 run (Pass failed)
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