Leopards fall to St. Paul in state quarterfinals

JUNIOR WIDE RECEIVER SCOTT DELCURTO reaches over a St. Paul defender to make a catch during Saturday’s state playoff game. The Leopards fell 66-22. GRANT HUDKINS photo

St. Paul came out swinging in the first quarter during a 66-22 win against Cove.

“We needed to come out quickly,” Leopards head coach Todd Shirley said. “St. Paul set the tempo early on, and we didn’t respond.

The game came down to which team controlled the ground. That battle went to St. Paul.

Senior running back Ryan Pierson eluded tacklers all game long to keep his high school career going.

“We didn’t want our season to end here today,” Pierson said. “As a team we made up our mind that wasn’t going to happen.”

Pierson held up his end. The 6-foot-2 tailback broke the second play from scrimmage for a 71-yard touchdown run.

Cove’s first drive didn’t go as smoothly with a high snap sending the Leopards back 20 yards and forcing a 3-and-out.

Cove was held to 25 yards of offense in the first quarter — with minus 15 on the ground.

Pierson, meanwhile, continued to hammer away. He picked up 59 yards on the ensuing drive.

Quarterback Dailey Smith punched in the touchdown from a yard out.

Even the Leopards’ passing game struggled against the St. Paul pressure.

David Ferguson picked off a screen pass on the Leopard’s third drive of the game, returning it to the 2-yard line.

Dailey punched it in, and with 5:38 left in the first quarter the Buckaroos held a 24-0 lead.

Cove got on the scoreboard following a fumble recovery by senior Kyle Holland.

Quarterback Jered Witty connected with Scott DelCurto on a four-yard touchdown pass, and Landen Reddington reeled in the two-point conversion.

“We just didn’t get enough of those big plays,” Shirley said. “You have to get some breaks, but we ended up giving more than we got.”

Pierson quickly grabbed the momentum back with a 29-yard touchdown run.

St. Paul went into the half with a 46-8 lead.

Pierson had 14 carries for 226 yards in the opening two quarters of the game.

The Leopards ended the game with 34 yards rushing on 24 carries.

St. Paul finished the game with 652 total yards of offense.

Shirley is hoping something good comes from this loss.

After the Leopards’ first trip to the postseason since 2003, Shirley hopes the playoff fever lingers for the players returning next season.

“It’s something that we need to build on. We can’t be satisfied with what we did this season.

“We have a chance to get this program headed back in the right direction. We’ll be back next year,” Shirley said.

The Leopards graduate three seniors — Witty, Holland and Dylan Hamilton.

“You can’t replace those guys,” Shirley said. “You just hope you have guys who can step in and do the job.”

St. Paul will play Mohawk, a 42-40 winner over Crane, in the state semifinals at Liberty High School Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Buckaroos 66, Leopards 22

St. Paul    32    14    14    6    –    6

Cove    0    8    14    0    –    22

First Quarter

SP – Ryan Pierson 71 run (Luke Palma run)

SP – Daley Smith 1 run (Justin Gonzalez run)

SP – Daley 2 run (Daley run)

SP – Ryan Peloquin 10 pass from Daley (Daley run)

Second Quarter

SP – Gonzalez 25 run (run failed)

CO – Scott DelCutro 4 pass from Witty (Laden Reddington from Witty)

SP – Pierson 29 run (Daley run)

Third Quarter

SP – David Ferguson 21 pass from Daley (run failed)

CO – DelCurto 72 kickoff return (Shane Iturbide from Witty)

SP – Ferguson 14 pass from Daley (Gonzalez run)

CO – Reddington 69 pass from Witty (run failed)

Fourth Quarter

SP – Daniel McKay 11 run (run failed)