Panthers get a rematch with LCC in Region 26 semis

Option 1 didn't quite work out the way Kris Alge and the McComb Panthers had planned. So they regrouped, refocused and came up with Option 2. So far, that little detour has been a success. "Our first goal, always, is to win the league," Alge said. "When we didn't win the BVC (Blanchard Valley Conference) we set a new goal, and that's to win the region." McComb's quest for a title and some hardware to go with it continues on Friday when the Panthers (10-2) battle Lima Central Catholic (8-3) in a Division VII, Region 26 semifinal at Allen East's Goodwin Field. Friday's game is a rematch of last year's Region 26 semifinal, which LCC won 30-26. The Thunderbirds beat Antwerp a week later to win the regional title, then fell to eventual state champion New Bremen in the state semifinals Memories aren't the only thing returning from last year's matchup. At the top of that list is Carson Parker, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior quarterback who had 173 yards passing, 173 rushing and figured in all four LCC touchdowns a year ago. When McComb pulled within 30-26 on an Andrew Swisher touchdown in the final three minutes, it was Parker who recovered the on-side kick to secure LCC's win. "We're going to be facing a really good quarterback, a guy who can throw it and run it," Alge said. Second-team all-Ohio as a junior, Parker has had a senior season worthy of lofty honors as well. He's thrown for 1,806 yards and 21 TDs with just two interceptions in 136 attempts. He's also rushed for 995 yards and 19 scores, and plays linebacker and is one of the T-Birds top defensive players. Some of LCC's other key players include 6-6 senior receiver Billy Rourk, a three-sport (football, basketball, baseball) standout who has caught 30 passes for 825 yards and nine TDs; junior dual threat Matthew Quatman (570 yards rushing, 470 receiving, 12 TDs); and 195-pound sophomore linebacker Caden Falke (94 tackles, 12 tackles for loss). Alge knows the knowledge gained from last year's playoff experience with LCC will be invaluable in Friday's rematch. But he's also seen from the Panthers an amped up defensive intensity that, since the loss to L-B, has impacted both playoff wins. "Hats off to our defense. We challenged them and they really stepped up," Alge said. "Coach (Chris) Myers, coach Dino (Woodruff), coach Bos (Marc Bosworth) … those guys do a great job of setting up a defensive plan and our guys executed it." LCC had an up-and-down start to the 2023 season. The T-Birds, playing an independent schedule that included a number of elite teams, lost three of their first five games, including a 28-14 loss to Division VI Carey and 46-13 setback to Division IV Bishop Hartley, two 10-2 teams still in the playoffs. But they also beat 10-2, Division IV Columbus Ready (48-14). After wins over Elmwood (49-18), a Lucas team (34-27) that would go 8-4, and Cardinal Stritch (53-0), LCC has been in a real groove, posting carbon-copy wins over Fort Loramie (45-21) to end the regular season and Ayersville (42-20) and Convoy Crestview (44-28) in the playoffs. McComb has been on a roll as well, scoring between 49 and 61 points in six of its last seven games. The one exception was a 44-22 loss to Liberty-Benton in a Week 10 showdown that ended McComb's hopes of winning a third straight BVC title and forced the Panthers to shift their focus to the playoffs. Highlighting McComb's playoff run has been the Panther's bread and butter, a potent running attack led up front by all-BVC linemen Nick Bormuth (6-5, 265, sr.) and Owen DeWeese (6-0, 215, sr.) and featuring scatback Braxton Althauser, who has rushed for 583 yards and scored 10 touchdowns (9 rushing, 1 receiving) in two playoff games. Through 12 games, Althauser, who was co-offensive player of the year in the BVC with Liberty-Benton quarterback Mason Modd, has 2,290 yards and 31 TDs rushing and 330 yards and six TDs receiving. The 5-9, 160-pound senior has also returned two kicks and an interception for scores. Althauser had 308 yards and four rushing TDs in Friday's round two win over Edon, displaying both separation speed, as he did on 78- and 86-yard breakaways, and elusiveness, as he did on an 18-yard scoring run where he twice appeared to be penned in by Edon defenders, but was able to fake, spin and shimmy his way past both groups to reach the end zone. "Our line does a good job of blocking. We have a lot of guys back from last year and they take a lot of pride in that," Alge said. "And Braxton, what can I say? He does just such a good job of juking and making people miss. He's shifty." WHAT'S NEXT: In Friday's other Region 26 semifinal, undefeated Hopewell-Loudon (12-0) will take on Patrick Henry (10-2) at Bowling Green High School. Friday's winners will square off Nov. 17 for the regional title and a trip to the Division VII state semifinals on Nov. 24.