East Central opened up a 24-0 lead in the opening seconds of the third quarter and didn’t look back as it defeated Seymour 52-8 for the championship of Class 4A Sectional 23 Friday night at Bulleit Stadium.
The loss snapped an eight game winning streak for the Owls and left them with an 8-4 record.
The sectional title was East Central’s 17th in school history, and the Trojans take a 10-2 record into the regional.
The Trojans had four possessions in the first half and scored two touchdowns and kicked a field goal to hold a 17-0 lead at the half.
East Central received the opening kickoff and marched down to the Seymour 8-yard line before a holding penalty moved the Trojans back and they had to settle for a 32-yard field goal by Nick Stidham.
The Owls then moved the ball 38 yards on three passes but ran out of downs at the East Central 37.
The Trojans then drove for their first touchdown, an 8-yard run by Logan Storie at 11:56 of the second period.
Alan Perry teamed up with Jackson Morris on a 50-yard pass on Seymour’s next possession, but the Owls ran out of downs at the Trojan’s 20.
Later in the second period Storie caught a long pass from Alex Maxwell for a 72-yard play for a touchdown and the 17-0 lead at 5:04.
The Owls then put together a 17-play drive and drove from their own 27 to the East Central 5-yard line before Perry was intercepted in the end zone on the final play of the half.
In the first half Perry completed 9 of 18 passes for 143 yards while Morris caught 4 for 90 yards.
Seymour had only 35 net yard rushing in the first half.
The Trojans added to their lead on the first play of the third quarter when Dillion Watkins intercepted Perry and returned it 20 yards for the score.
The Owls then drove for a touchdown; a 10-yard run by Nathan O’Mara. The big plays in the drive were a 27-yard pass from Perry to O’Mara and a 20-yard run by Zach Carpenter.
Storie finished with 19 carries for 151 yards.
Perry finished with 14 of 28 passes for 104 yards. Morris lead the Owls in receiving with 5 catches for 104 yards.