An unlikely playoff option emerged in Lakota East’s run-heavy offense on Saturday night: Touchdown-throwing quarterback Eric Eichler.

His three TD passes – he completed just four – were key in a riveting 45-38 overtime win at Springboro in a Division I, Region 4 high school football playoff opener.

How unlikely was the junior’s aerial attack? He had completed just 26 passes in the regular season.

“I’m speechless,” he said. “I never thought that I’d throw for three touchdowns in a game. We have a chance. We’re at our peak right now so we just have to keep chugging along.”

East (8-3) earned a Region 4 semifinal against Moeller (8-3) next Saturday. Moeller eliminated Wayne 43-21 in another Region 4 quarterfinal also on Saturday. Springboro finishes 10-1.

Eichler whipped TD strikes of 58 and 25 yards to Bobby Brown. He also speared Jake Chestnut with a 22-yard scoring strike.

The game served as a community memorial to fallen Springboro junior lineman Shaun Frechette. He was killed in a one-car accident on Thursday morning as he drove to school.

A moving tribute to Frechette was held before the game. Both teams joined near midfield and united for a moment of silence.

Springboro’s heavy burden may or may not have played into East’s favor. It seemed that way when Will Mahone blasted 76 yards on the first play from scrimmage for the Thunderhawks. Two carries later Mahone gave East a 7-0 lead. Less than one minute had been played.

Trailing throughout, QB Jack Schaaf guided Springboro 58 yards in less than two minutes on a clutch final fourth-quarter drive. His 22-yard catch-and-run to Jake Johnson sent the packed stadium into a frenzy.

Eichler capped an outstanding game when he pin-balled in from six yards out for the winning score in OT.

Springboro tried to answer on its OT possession, but Rahman Hardin was stuffed near the goal line by East defender Ben Bostick.

East coach Rick Haynes saluted Springboro afterward. East knocked West out of the playoffs last week and followed with the KO of Springboro’s perfect regular season.

“No team should ever have to go through that,” he said of the Panthers. “I don’t know if we’re a darkhorse or underdog or whatever. I’ll take any name as long as we’re playing in Week 12.”