Lakota East’s game plan against Moeller in Saturday’s Division I, Region 4 football semifinal was simple — possess the ball long enough to keep it out of the hands of the prolific Crusader offense.

The Thunderhawks’ plan worked. Well, half of it, anyway. Lakota East held the ball for 19:05 of the first half’s 24 minutes and 27:04 in the game, but that couldn’t keep quick-striking Moeller from piling up 396 yards of total offense in a 46-20 win at the University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium.

“We held the ball 19 minutes in the first half and scored seven points,” Thunderhawks’ coach Rick Haynes said. “You don’t have to score every time you have the ball, but it sure seems like it against them.”

Senior running back Chamada Palmore gained 98 yards and scored a touchdown on 15 carries to lead seventh-seeded Lakota East (8-4), which saw the first postseason appearance in the 16-year history of the program come to an end.

Junior quarterback Eric Eichler scored two touchdowns and was 4-of-6 for 102 yards, but that wasn’t enough to offset the exploits of Crusader senior running back Keith Watkins, who gained 168 yards and scored touchdowns on runs of 17, 40 and 80 yards before sitting out the second half.

“We knew they were good offensively,” Haynes said. “They handled us up front better than we thought they would.”

The Thunderhawks’ approach looked sound initially, after they went 80 yards in 14 plays and consumed 7:35 of the clock on their opening drive, which ended with Eichler’s 3-yard touchdown run. Third-seeded Moeller (9-3) responded with six consecutive scoring drives, the last five ending in touchdowns, while limiting Lakota East to just 184 rushing yards in the last three quarters after yielding 72 in the first quarter.

“We had to be disciplined on defense,” Moeller coach John Rodenberg said.

Lakota East had to be satisfied with going one round into its first-ever playoff appearance after producing its first winning season in seven years.

“I’m proud of them,” Haynes said. “They found ways to win.”

As the clock ran down to 0:00, the Lakota East students chimed in with:

“Thank you, seniors.”