LeRoy fell to Concord Triopia, 22-20, to end the Panthers season. (Photo by Eric Lapan/WJBC). 

By Bryan Bloodworth

LeROY - LeRoy High School's bid for a Class 1A state football championship came up short Saturday at McKean Field.

Concord Triopia scored in each of the final three quarters to hand LeRoy its first loss of the season, 22-20, in the quarterfinal round. The Panthers finished with an 11-1 record, while the Trojans improved to 11-1 and face Maroa-Forsyth next week in the semifinals.

LeRoy had a chance to tie the game after scoring a touchdown on a 14-yard pass from Nic Stevens to Shane Bruning with 3:45 remaining. But the potential game-tying 2-point conversion pass failed.

The Panthers got the ball back when their defense forced Triopia to punt with 2:01 remaining. LeRoy had the ball at the Trojans' 49 when a Stevens' pass was intercepted by Blake Richardson to seal the verdict.

LeRoy started the scoring with 5:55 remaining in the first quarter with an 8-play, 73-yard drive that was capped by 39-yard touchdown jaunt by Cory Eastham. Stevens added the conversion kick for a 7-0 lead.

Triopia closed within, 7-6, with 2:17 left in the first half on a 67-yard screen pass from Tanner Huddleston to fullback Matt Parker. The 2-point conversion run failed.

The Trojans took the lead with 10:19 to go in the third quarter on a 14-yard touchdown run by Derrek Schone. The 2-point conversion pass from Huddleston to Josh Millard gave Triopia a 14-7 advantage.

LeRoy battled back to tie the game with 5:41 left in third quarter on a 30-yard touchdown run by Bruning. Stevens' conversion kick knotted the score at 14.

Triopia  then scored what proved to be the winning touchdown with 10:22 remaining on a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Huddleston. Schone added the 2-point conversion, which turned out to be the difference.

Bryan Bloodworth can be reached at bryan.bloodworth@cumulus.com