Class 5A: No. 5 Lawrence North regains pulse for goal-line stand, topples 11th-ranked North Central, 10-7, in OT

By E. Shawn Aylsworth

Managing Editor

INDIANAPOLIS â�?��?? Fifth-ranked Lawrence North definitely did not bring its â�?��?Aâ�?� game Oct. 28 to its Class 5A Sectional 5 semifinal showdown at No. 11 North Central (Indianapolis). The Wildcats combined an anemic offense with multiple turnovers and a pair of missed field goals, then nearly gave the game away on a 55-yard run up the middle by the Panthersâ�?��?� Chad Spann with a minute to go.

But LN defensive back Collin Coffer made a game-saving, somehow-ran-him-down tackle on Spann at the 4-yard line. And after the Wildcats held North Central, then held their breaths as a 22-yard field goal that would have given the Panthers the win went wide left to end regulation, Coffer came up big again in overtime.

The junior DB intercepted North Central quarterback Nate Pribbenoâ�?��?�s third-down pass in the end zone, allowing the Wildcats to make good on a third three-point attempt three plays later. Nick Freelandâ�?��?�s 19-yard field goal clinched a 10-7 Lawrence North victory, and there were no doubts anywhere on a frigid Friday night that the Wildcats were majorly lucky to escape.

Next up Nov. 5:

Lawrence North gets a rematch with third-ranked Warren Central Nov. 5. As you recall, it was just three weeks ago that LN upset the then No. 1-ranked Warriors, 33-14. The setting will be the same as the Wildcats hit the road for the third straight week in postseason play, and it will be more than a little interesting to see what kind of payback the sure-to-be-focused two-time defending 5A state champs have in mind â�?�¦

More to come â�?�¦