Langston: Loramie Rolls, Pounds Tri-County North 43-13

Ft. Loramie win first home playoff game since 2022…and looked dominant doing it…scored 23 unanswered in first quarter to blow out Tri-County North.

By Scott Langston for Press Pros

Ft. Loramie, OH – The opening whistle blew and the rout was on.

Ft. Loramie (6-5) scored 23 unanswered points in the first quarter in 43-13 blowout win over Tri-County North (6-5). Big plays by Redskins defense early set up big plays by the offense, as the home team took complete control of the game. It was their first home playoff game and home playoff win in four years.

The Redskins missed the playoffs last year. In 2023 and 2024 they finished eleventh in the region, winning on the road in the opening round both times. However, they lost in the second round both years. This year’s first round win advances them to the second round to face undefeated Marion Local, the state’s top-rated team in D-VII.

“It’s the first time that we’ve won a home playoff game here in four years, so that’s an exciting thing,” said Ft. Loramie coach Spencer Wells. “It’s a goal we’ve had all season, posting a home playoff game and getting one more win on our field. So I’m really proud for our seniors over there to have this memory, their final time playing here.”

“We went 3-7 last year. We’ve doubled our win total, and now we’ve earned – we just told the team – a really unique opportunity next week. So we’re excited,” said Wells.

The big plays all started with a big interception by Holden Grilliot on the game’s third offensive play. Three plays later wide receiver Tanner Eilerman blew past his Panther defender. Quarterback Tanner Heckman hit him in stride for a 38-yard score. Ft. Loramie led 7-0 with just 1:27 off the game clock.

The Panthers gifted the Redskins two more points on their next possession when the snap went over punt Grayson Woodworth’s head. Woodworth was able to cover the ball in the end zone, but the 24-yard loss resulted in a safety. After the free kick set the Redskins up at the TCN 49, it took just three plays for them to score again. A 41-yard pass from Heckman to Jayden Luthman started the drive. Wyatt Holthaus finished it off with a 3-yard run. It was 16-0 with 6:15 still to play in the first quarter.

“We’re blessed with Tanner Eilerman and Jayden Luthman,” said the Redskin coach. “Those guys were one and two in our conference, the NWC, in receptions. Tanner was the number one, and Jayden was number two. They’ve been consistent for us all year, and as sophomores, they are really having outstanding seasons. Credit to Jayden. He’s really stepped up into that role. And we’ve got two guys that we really trust out there and make a ton of plays for us.”

Ft. Loramie was then set up with a short field when they stuffed the Panthers on a 4th-and-1 play from the Tri-County North 25. Three plays later Heckman ran it in from 18 yards out, and it was 23-0.

“Tanner Heckman does a great job,” Wells said. “He had some really good throws tonight. Ran the ball well. Wyatt Holthaus – good to get him going again in the run game. I thought he ran really hard in the second half. That all starts up front. Our offensive line played a really good football game.”

“I thought we had big plays in the pass game, explosive plays in the pass game, and then we got a few in the run game as well. Our offensive line, led by our seniors, Sebastian Barhorst and Dylan Meyer, really did a great job with our protections and getting some movement, so credit to them,” Wells added.

The Panthers finally got their offense going with a long 12-play, 73-yard drive, which was aided by a pass interference call against the Redskins. The touchdown came on a 23-yard pass from Luke Baughman to their 6-5 receiver Grayson Wordworth, who was wide open. The 2-point try failed.

“We didn’t have disciplined eyes on that one, and they got us up the seam. But overall, we did a pretty good job with him,” Wells said of defending Woodworth.

Ft. Loramie answered with another quick score, going 51 yards in four plays after recovering an onside kick. The touchdown came on a 26-yard catch and run by Luthman. That was the final score of the first half, as Ft. Loramie took a 29-6 lead into halftime.

The Redskins took little time in the third quarter to initiate a running clock, going 51 yards in two plays after another onside kick. Heckman scored the touchdown on a 34-yard run. the Lucas Brandewie extra point made it 36-6, and the running clock began.

After another fourth down stop by the Redskin defense, the offense scored again quickly. They went 49 yards in three plays with Holthaus running it in from 23 yards out for the touchdown. The Panthers scored a late touchdown on a 67-yard run by Peyton Fannin against the Ft. Loramie JV’s to round out the scoring.

The Redskins now have the task of playing role of David against the giant Goliath, played by the Flyers. They already pulled off one upset this year when they scored on the final play of the game to take down Anna 13-12.

“I just told them. ‘We don’t gotta beat them a hundred times. We just gotta figure out a way to beat them once.’ And this team has pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the state of Ohio this year already,” Wells said. “I think the biggest advantage that Marion Local has is that no one expects us to beat them. I just told them. ‘We gotta take away their biggest advantage. We gotta attack this week. Expect to find a way to win and work our butts off.’”

“We got to be on our game to give our ourselves the best chance to pull off an upset,” he concluded.