Snider senior tailback John Nelson put up 114 yards in 27 carries in Snider’s 28-10 semistate loss at Penn, which left him 35 yards shy of the school career rushing record.

Nelson finished with 4,177 career yards, just behind Vaughn Dunbar’s 4,227 he got from 1984-86. Nelson is also No. 2 in a single season with 2,420, behind Dunbar’s 2,475 in 1986.

No matter, said his coach, Kurt Tippmann.

“John and the offensive line just did a tremendous job all year running the ball,” Tippmann said. “We’re proud of him. He’s gonna go down in history as one of the great Snider tailbacks, and he’s well-deserving of that. It’s a great group to be associated with, so congrats to him.”

Luers ‘D’ steps up

All season, the talk has been about the talented playmakers Bishop Luers has on offense. Led by James Knapke, the SAC’s all-time leading passer, the Knights average 41 points and have not gone below 26 all season.

But late in the fourth quarter in a 35-21 semistate win over Bremen, the Knights led only 21-14.

The spark, this time, came from the defense in the form of two big returns for touchdowns in Kendrick Mullen’s 61-yard fumble recovery and run and Andrew Spencer’s 30-yard interception return to give Luers the 35 points.

It also helped the two-time defending Class 2A state champion Knights (12-1) avoid the big upset loss as the Lions (13-1) came roaring back in the fourth.

Senior salute

Leo coach Jared Sauder had a message for his seniors after the 13-3 semistate loss to South Bend Washington.

“We told them they have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. They’ve overcome a lot of things and they met expectations and even a little bit more than that,” Sauder said.

“We’re proud of the (and) the community is proud of them.”

Leo reached semistate for the second straight year. They lost in 3A last season.