SENECA, Mo. — The Seneca Indians are going back to the state title game after a dominating performance in a 31-0 win over Lift for Life in the Class 3 state semifinals on Saturday.
Seneca took a 17-0 lead in the intermission after holding the ball for 17 minutes and 20 seconds of the first 24 minutes, controlling the ground game and rushing for more than 200 yards. The Indians’ defense shut down the Hawks in the second half, adding a pair of defensive touchdowns in the process to put the game away.
The Indians put on a long, methodical series to open the game. The drive lasted 8:45 of game clock and 17 plays. All of the plays were on the ground until Seneca, which got behind the chains after a third penalty in the drive—a holding call, faced a fourth down and 7 on the Lift for Life 22, with the pass to the end zone falling incomplete for a turnover-on-downs.
Seneca’s defense forced a three-and-out, however, and Jace Renfro blocked the ensuing Lift for Life punt, with the ball going out of the end zone for a safety to give the Indians a 2-0 lead late in the first quarter.
The Indians cashed in for a score late in the first half when QB Kaden Clouse capped off an 80-yard drive that spanned eight plays with a 30-yard run on a keeper for the first touchdown of the game, giving the Indians a 9-0 lead with 4:15 on the clock.
Seneca’s Jagger Wilson fell on a fumble near midfield on the ensuing Lift for Life possession with less than four minutes to play.
The Indians took the extra possession and punched it into the end zone when RB Roman Miller, who ran for more than 100 yards in the first half and finished with 189, bulldozed his way across the goal line from 3 yards out for a touchdown with 18 seconds left on the clock. Seneca’s Tyrone Harris won on a race to the pylon on a reverse on the ensuing 2-point try for a 17-0 lead into the intermission.
Seneca dominated the first half in time of possession 17:20 to 6:40 and ran more than double the plays than Lift for Life, 36-15.
After a scoreless third quarter, Seneca put the final nail in the coffin when Harris came up with an interception for a 43-yard pick-6 to push the lead to 24-0 with 9:21 left in the game.
The defense came up with another big play when Miller scooped up a loose ball for a 43-yard fumble return touchdown and a 31-0 lead with 7:13 left in the game.