A Historic Day for Providence Academy Football in Section Tournament Victory

Marshall Klitzke of Providence Academy made history for the Lions football team on Saturday with all kinds of firsts.

"It was the greatest feeling I've ever felt in my life," Klitzke said. "It was a great team effort."

He had 378 yards rushing for five touchdowns as the Lions rolled over Breck 55-20 in the section tournament semifinals on Saturday. Both proved sufficient for school records in single-game yardage and TDs.

The win also marked the first time in PA's 10-year history to reach the section championship game.

"That's just one man putting his team on his back," Lions receiver/defensive back Nick Schmitz said.

To add to the triumphant game, the Lions players received immediate word of De La Salle's loss to Rockford in the other semfinal game. It sets up a home game on Friday for the Lions in the section finals against Rockford.

"I couldn't stop yelling," Schmitz said.

Lions quarterback Jackson Canfield also ran the ball up and down the field on the Mustangs in the first half, and he threw a few big passes too.

His running on the Lions’ second scoring drive set-up Klitzke for a rushing touchdown and a 21-7 lead. Canfield also found Kellen Carney, and Schmitz on TD passes, and he rushed for one after an interception return.

Lommen threw for 180 yards in the first half, and he had several passes that could have put the Mustangs in position to steal a win from PA. He found receiver Tyler Hudson on a 34-yard pass, which set up a TD pass for the lone Mustang score of the half.

"We knew they were going to throw 70 percent of the time," Lions coach Nate Harrington said. "We wanted to make sure they would throw 100 percent of the time."

Turnovers stymied other sustained drives by the Mustangs. A fumble by the Mustangs turned into Canfield’s 39-yard TD pass to Schmitz, and Lions defensive back Daniel Leidall picked off a deep pass by Lommen. Leidall returned it 71 yards, which set up Canfield’s TD run.

Lions started turning over the ball in the second half with a fumble and interception. Lommen lead the Mustangs down field and capped it with an 18-yard pass to Christian Lawrence for a TD.

The Lions special teams stepped up with an extra point block. Then, Klitzke took the ball 45-yards for a TD after runs of 8 and 19 yards on the drive. It put the Lions up 41-13.

The Mustangs took advantage of Lions penalties in the following drive, and Taveon Miller stepped up with an 11-yard catch and a 6-yard draw run for a TD.

It cut the score to 41-20. The Lions’ Greg Leggott picked up the onside kick, and Klitzke ran for his fourth TD of the day on a 10-yard run. He set-up the TD run with 30-yard play on the drive. It put the Lions up 48-20.

Then Schmitz picked off Lommen at 7:36 in the second half. Klitzke then ran 49 yards and punched in the ball on the following play for his fifth TD and a 55-20 lead.

The Lions have not lost since their homecoming loss to De La Salle. The Lions will host Rockford at 7 p.m. on Friday.  "We don't want this to end," Schmitz said. "We want to show people that Providence is a team to be reckonned with."