SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : Loara Starts With 14-0 Lead, Then Loses Momentum, Game

Loara took an early 14-0 lead against Schurr Friday night, but the Spartans responded with the next four touchdowns to eliminate the Saxons, 28-14, in a Division III playoff game at Glover Stadium.

Loara (7-5) took a 7-0 lead with 7 minutes 22 seconds to play in the first quarter on a one-yard run by Mister Albritton that was set up by Curt Peil’s interception. The Saxons drove 37 yards in six plays for the score. Following a Schurr punt, Loara made it 14-0 on Dennis Dawson’s 31-yard touchdown run.

The Saxons kept things going their way when Bryant Jackson blocked a 25-yard field-goal attempt by Robert Gonzales midway through the second quarter. But Schurr (10-2) got back in the game with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Ray Donahue to Dennis Felix with 6:57 left in the half. The touchdown, which made the score 14-7 at halftime, was set up by a Loara fumble.

“They took the momentum away from us,” said Loara Coach John deFries. “Once they had it, it was hard to get it back.”

Schurr, runner-up in the Foothill League, recovered an onside kick to open the second half and drove 50 yards in 10 plays to tie the score on Claudio Millan’s 10-yard run. The Spartans then intercepted Albritton and took the lead on Kiki Castillas’ 10-yard run with 9:34 to play. Millan added a 24-yard touchdown run with 1:19 to play.

Loara turned the ball over four times; three led to Schurr scores.