Carbondale ends La Salle-Peru's playoff run with 41-13 win
The Cavaliers were shut out for three quarters before scoring in the fourth quarter against the Terriers.
By Andrew Hayes ·
La Salle-Peru's season concluded with a 41-13 loss to Carbondale in the Class 5A second-round playoff game played in Carbondale on Saturday.
The Cavaliers did not score until the fourth quarter after being held without points for the first three periods. Carbondale pulled its starting defensive unit from the field once the running clock began. Sophomore tailback Sam Carter ran for a 5-yard touchdown with 10:39 remaining. Senior quarterback Grey Ernat completed a 9-yard pass to senior tight end Jaron Morscheiser with 2.3 seconds left in the game.
Carbondale senior quarterback Davin Wooley led the Terriers' offense with four touchdowns. He threw three scoring passes and rushed for one, including two long strikes of 40 and 66 yards. Wooley avoided sacks and tackles for loss to extend drives. Carbondale coach Bryan Lee said the confidence provided by the starting defense allowed Wooley to play without forcing throws. Lee noted that Wooley acted as an extra defensive threat because teams could not concentrate their defense solely on the running game.
La Salle-Peru coach JJ Raffleson said his team struggled to move the ball offensively, which created difficult defensive situations. Raffleson acknowledged that the defense was in position to make plays but failed to execute against the scrambles and pressure. The Cavaliers punted four times, threw one interception, and turned the ball over on downs in the other scoring drives. They drove to the Carbondale 13-yard line late in the first half but were stopped when Mac Fenton intercepted Ernat on fourth-and-4.
Carbondale built a 24-0 lead by halftime. The Terriers extended their lead with a 70-yard pass from Wooley to senior receiver Javion Oliver. Junior kicker Huck Borrenpohl then made a 21-yard field goal. Raffleson stated that the team needed to convert in the red zone to maintain momentum. He said the team played fast and hard but missed on specific plays that would have changed the outcome.
The Cavaliers finish the season with a 6-6 record. The team won its first playoff game in 23 years in the opening round against Galesburg to reach the second round. Raffleson credited the group's leadership and standards for the season's progress. He noted that talent is limited without consistency and said the current senior class laid a foundation for the program's future.
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