Subscribe nowCustomer Service

Register Now

• Sign In
• E-mail preferences

Journal-News.com

East's Bowen out for year

Senior RB suffers knee injury; QB Cattani also out

LIBERTY TWP. Lakota East's 59-28 victory over Middletown on Friday night didn't come without a cost.

Senior running back Paul Bowen suffered a season-ending knee injury at the 6:41 mark of the third quarter while scoring his second touchdown. He finished with 184 yards on 27 carries.

Through seven games, the 6-foot-1, 210-pounder leads the Greater Miami Conference with 952 yards rushing on 177 carries, and has scored eight TDs.

Junior Devin Favors and sophomore Taylor Williams will now see extended time in the backfield, East coach Greg Bailie said Monday.

"I'm confident our team can handle this," Bailie said. "The thing that makes you sick is that Paul's a senior. He's really been committed to the team and the program the entire time he's been here. That's where you feel bad. He's put so much into it.

"To miss the last three games of your senior year, I feel worse for him personally because the team can handle it. You feel horrible for him."

Sophomore quarterback Colt Cattani also suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Middies. Cattani was injured in the first quarter, and was replaced by senior Nick Darland, who had missed the last four games with a dislocated hip.

Darland completed 9-of-10 passes for 202 yards and three TDs.

Senior wide receiver/safety Casey Kjos also sprained an ankle in the victory, but Bailie said he'll be OK and that he is "possible but doubtful" for Friday's contest with Hamilton.

Contact Steven Matthews at (513) 755-5113 or smatthews@coxohio.com.