SST. JOSEPH — Slow down the St. Joseph running game and the Bears can beat you through the air.

Davis Crossman threw for 240 yards and four touchdowns as St. Joseph defeated rival Lakeshore 41-21 in a Division 3 football district semifinal Friday.

St. Joseph (9-1) advances to the district final and will host Zeeland West (9-1) at 7 p.m. next Friday.

The Bears have relied on their dominant running game much of the season, something the Lancers knew all too well after St. Joseph racked up 415 yards on the ground against them in a 46-7 regular-season victory.

"We kind of sold out because they're predominantly run," Lakeshore coach Danny Thompson said. "We came down and they were able to complete some big stuff over the top. We dared them to do it and they were able to do it. Sometimes you've just got to shake their hand, they made plays."

The two rivals were meeting in the playoffs for a second straight season. Last year, Lakeshore reversed a 35-0 regular-season loss with a 20-15 postseason victory — something the Bears were determined not to let happen again.

"It feels amazing," St. Joseph's Blayke Sicurello said. "It was heartbreaking last year, but it's definitely a weight off our shoulders for sure."

Sicurello certainly did his part, catching three passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns, and intercepting two passes on defense.

"He's a heck of a football player," St. Joseph coach Andrew Pratley said. "He's just a really smart secondary player. Sometimes he takes some chances, but tonight it paid off with two picks, and obviously he's a great receiver. Great night for him for sure."

After a scoreless first quarter, Sicurello caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Crossman on fourth-and-goal to put the Bears ahead. Lakeshore (3-7) went three-and-out on its next possession, and Crossman then hit Sicurello with an 85-yard scoring strike to make it 12-0.

Lakeshore had a chance to cut the margin before halftime, driving all the way to the St. Joseph 9-yard line. The Lancers lined up for a short field goal but struggled with the snap, and after a scramble for possession the ball ended up all the way back at the St. Joseph 39.

"We didn't play a clean game, and when you don't play a clean game against a good team, it's hard to win," Thompson said.

The Bears took advantage, driving 61 yards and scoring on a five-yard pass from Crossman to Eli Kragt with 11 seconds left in the half. Bobby DeLong caught a two-point conversion to make it 20-0 at the break.

DeLong had a big second half, catching two passes for 108 yards, including a 66-yard touchdown.

Dylan Chapman added a rushing touchdown in the third quarter that extended the lead to 26-0. He finished with 21 carries for 90 yards. That snapped a five-game string of 100-yard rushing performances that began with a 292-yard, six-touchdown showing against the Lancers in the first meeting.

Lakeshore finally got on the board with 1:21 left in the third quarter on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Landon Hall to Vince Hughes, the first of two scoring connections for the pair.

Hughes had three catches for 49 yards. Kaden Griffiths had three catches for 54 yards, but was ejected in the third quarter after an altercation with Sicurello. Both players were given unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, but Griffiths was disqualified as he had received one earlier for excessive celebration.

Hall finished 19-for-32 for 203 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Lakeshore finished with just 194 yards of total offense, however, as its rushing total was hurt by the botched field goal try and sacks by the Bears' Jones Rappette, Isaac Ebrecht, Elvin Vu and Chase Pitcher.

"I thought our defense was lights out," Pratley said. "Obviously a lot of talk about their offense, and I thought our defense completely shut them down until late in the game."

Both teams added a score in the final minute. St. Joseph freshman Ish Dixon ran for a 5-yard touchdown, and Lakeshore's Jonah Chavez took the ensuing kickoff back 85 yards for a score.

Lakeshore senior Jake DenDooven was a standout defensively in his final game with 10 tackles and two fumble recoveries.

"Jake's been that kind of kid all year," Thompson said. "If he wants to play on Saturdays, he definitely can. He's been the heart and soul for us, and kind of his coming out party was last year in the playoffs. Man, he left it all on the field tonight."

By Ben Sanders Herald Palladium