.jpg)
LAUREL — What started as a comeback for the ages turned into heartbreak for the Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Bears, as visiting Summerland scored a fourth-quarter touchdown to pull out a 30-26 win Oct. 10 at Haskell Field.
After falling behind 17-0 in the first quarter, the Bears roared back to take a 26-24 lead heading into the final 12 minutes. But a 3-yard touchdown run by the Bobcats in the fourth quarter handed LCC its fifth loss of the season, leaving just one regular-season game remaining.
Summerland came out firing, scoring on a pair of short touchdown runs and a 27-yard field goal by Aiden McAllister to take command early.
That’s when quarterback Paxton Hoeppner and the Bears went to work.
Ian Sohler scored from four yards out, and after a Drey Puppe extra point, LCC trailed 17-7. Moments later, Cade Johnson scooped up a Bobcat fumble and sprinted 10 yards to score, narrowing the gap to 17-14.
Before the end of the quarter, Hoeppner connected with Talon Carson on an 8-yard scoring strike to give the Bears their first lead, 2017, though the conversion run was stopped short.
Neither team scored in the second frame, but the Bears extended their advantage in the third when Puppe had a 24 yard TD run to make it 26-17.
Summerland responded with a 7-yard run to close the gap to 2624 entering the final period, then delivered the game-winning blow with a 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth.
Hoeppner turned in a strong performance, completing 19 of 34 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown while adding 36 rushing yards on seven carries. Puppe led the receiving corps with nine catches for 86 yards, and Carson added eight receptions for 70 yards and a score.
On the ground, Puppe led with 65 yards on nine carries and one touchdown.
Defensively, Kolten Settje paced the Bears with 14 tackles, including nine solo stops and one tackle for loss. Hoeppner added 11 tackles, Carson had eight, and Luke Erwin finished with six, including two in the Summerland backfield. Johnson contributed four tackles and his scoop-and-score highlight.
The Bears close the regular season Oct. 17 on the road against Stanton.
SUM (5-2) — 17 0 7 6 — 30 LCC (2-5) — 20 0 6 0 — 26 LCC Passing Yards: 155 LCC Rushing Yards: 122 LCC Total Yards: 277
Passing: Paxton Hoeppner 19-34–157–1 TD; Drey Puppe 1-2–(-2).
Rushing: Drey Puppe 9-65–1 TD; Paxton Hoeppner 7-36; Ian Sohler 7-21–1 TD; Kolten Settje 3-5.
Receiving: Drey Puppe 9-86; Talon Carson 8-70–1 TD; Kolten Settje 1-0; Ian Sohler 2-(-1). Tackles: Kolten Settje 14 (1 TFL); Paxton Hoeppner 11; Talon Carson 8; Luke Erwin 6 (2 TFL); Drey Puppe 5; Jake Lipp 5; Cade Johnson 4 (1 FR, 1 TD); Tanner Thompson 3; Dillon Munter 3; Ian Sohler 1.
Members of the Marvel Team (above) include, (front) Paul Allison, Hunter Benson, Owen Johnson, Trystan Sims, Alex Allison; (back) Ben Pico-Towne, Jayson Wayman, Tyrelle Sims, and Shane Langford. Not pictured is Oscar Sala. Members of the Super Smash Brothers team include, Mara Droppers, Craig Karnes, Trystan Sims and Jacob Kolar. Not pictured is Kyler Hangman.
