INDIANAPOLIS -
From front runners to underdogs. The last year has not been really pleasing for Lawrence Central head coach Jayson West.
A season removed from a 7-2 regular season and an appearance in the regionals, the Bears had to replace a number of senior and key contributors in 2009. The result was a 4-5 regular season, including losses in three of their last four games.
"We have a lot of new players on the field," said West of his team during the regular season. "A lot of inconsistency."
Why should the playoffs be any different.
The Bears saw a 26 point get cut to five in a matter of five minutes in the fourth quarter, but found enough in the end to fight off Lawrence North 33-21 in the opening round of Sectional 5 play.
Read: Lawrence North in IndySportsNation.com Game of the Week vs Ben Davis
"We had the game and it looked like our team just got laid back," said senior running back Isaiah Roundtree-whose 51 yard touchdown with just over two minutes left helped to finally put the Wildcats away. "We gave them an opportunity to get back in it, we had their crowd jumping and everything."
"That upset me, but I'm glad we finished it off."
It looked as if Roundtree had sealed what would have been a blowout early in the fourth when his 18-yard touchdown rush put the Bears up 26-0. But what ensued was a offensive run unlike any this season for the Wildcats. They scored twice quickly after Roundtree's touchdown, then followed that with a onside kick, which they recovered in Lawrence Central territory.
Quarterback Aaron Sims then completed another scoring drive with a 33-yard touchdown strike to Tyler Bibbs, and with the extra point, Lawrence North had the deficit cut to 26-21.
"We had pretty good control we just lost our composure there at the end," said West of the Wildcat rally. "They made some really nice plays actually that got them right back in it, and they have some very talented athletes that can do that to you."
Read: Lawrence North Gives Carmel a Scare
Rountree would save the day on the ensuing Bears drive, when he took a handoff on third-and-two and broke through the Lawrence North defense for the 51 yard touchdown score. The Lawrence Central defense then stopped the Wildcats' hot offense on the next series to finally put the game away.
"I was just planning on holding the ball with two hands, getting two yards so we could run out the clock, but when I saw that hole, my senior mentality kicked in," said Roundtree of the run.
Such a scenario seemed unlikely for scoring 13 points in the first 24 minutes. After a first quarter touchdown, Ryan Ullrich helped to extend the lead with two field goals and the defense kept Lawrence North from getting anywhere near the endzone.
The offense would capitalize on the that drive after a bizarre few moments at the end of the third quarter. On fourth-and-two, Ullrich hit another field goal, but a penalty was called against Lawrence North, and West decided to take the points off the board and take the first-and-goal at the 11.
Read: Bears Have Up and Down Start To Season
Tre Roberson helped to reward the coach for his faith early in the fourth, as he found Deondre Townsend in the back of the endzone for the score to make it 20-0. Another turnover forced by the defense led to Roundtree's touchdown that made it 26-0.
"At practice the whole mentality has changed, "said Roundtree of the Bears' success the last two weeks-which was started with a win Oct 16th against Bloomington North. "Everybody's looking forward to going to practice, and that means a lot as a senior."
A season removed from a 7-2 regular season and an appearance in the regionals, the Bears had to replace a number of senior and key contributors in 2009. The result was a 4-5 regular season, including losses in three of their last four games.
"We have a lot of new players on the field," said West of his team during the regular season. "A lot of inconsistency."
Why should the playoffs be any different.
The Bears saw a 26 point get cut to five in a matter of five minutes in the fourth quarter, but found enough in the end to fight off Lawrence North 33-21 in the opening round of Sectional 5 play.
Read: Lawrence North in IndySportsNation.com Game of the Week vs Ben Davis
"We had the game and it looked like our team just got laid back," said senior running back Isaiah Roundtree-whose 51 yard touchdown with just over two minutes left helped to finally put the Wildcats away. "We gave them an opportunity to get back in it, we had their crowd jumping and everything."
"That upset me, but I'm glad we finished it off."
It looked as if Roundtree had sealed what would have been a blowout early in the fourth when his 18-yard touchdown rush put the Bears up 26-0. But what ensued was a offensive run unlike any this season for the Wildcats. They scored twice quickly after Roundtree's touchdown, then followed that with a onside kick, which they recovered in Lawrence Central territory.
Quarterback Aaron Sims then completed another scoring drive with a 33-yard touchdown strike to Tyler Bibbs, and with the extra point, Lawrence North had the deficit cut to 26-21.
"We had pretty good control we just lost our composure there at the end," said West of the Wildcat rally. "They made some really nice plays actually that got them right back in it, and they have some very talented athletes that can do that to you."
Read: Lawrence North Gives Carmel a Scare
Rountree would save the day on the ensuing Bears drive, when he took a handoff on third-and-two and broke through the Lawrence North defense for the 51 yard touchdown score. The Lawrence Central defense then stopped the Wildcats' hot offense on the next series to finally put the game away.
"I was just planning on holding the ball with two hands, getting two yards so we could run out the clock, but when I saw that hole, my senior mentality kicked in," said Roundtree of the run.
Such a scenario seemed unlikely for scoring 13 points in the first 24 minutes. After a first quarter touchdown, Ryan Ullrich helped to extend the lead with two field goals and the defense kept Lawrence North from getting anywhere near the endzone.
The offense would capitalize on the that drive after a bizarre few moments at the end of the third quarter. On fourth-and-two, Ullrich hit another field goal, but a penalty was called against Lawrence North, and West decided to take the points off the board and take the first-and-goal at the 11.
Read: Bears Have Up and Down Start To Season
Tre Roberson helped to reward the coach for his faith early in the fourth, as he found Deondre Townsend in the back of the endzone for the score to make it 20-0. Another turnover forced by the defense led to Roundtree's touchdown that made it 26-0.
"At practice the whole mentality has changed, "said Roundtree of the Bears' success the last two weeks-which was started with a win Oct 16th against Bloomington North. "Everybody's looking forward to going to practice, and that means a lot as a senior."
