Lancers escape with road victory

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Host Plainfield Central had several chances to win its Class 8A playoff game Friday against Belleville East but fell short 17-15.

The Wildcats (8-2) had a chance to take the lead in the final minute, but Evan Engelsen’s 40-yard field goal was short, giving the Lancers (7-3) a pleasant bus trip back to the St. Louis area.

‘‘That’s a very good team we beat over there,’’ Belleville East coach Tim Funk said. ‘‘Our defense came up big when they had to.’’

The Lancers opened a 10-0 lead on a 93-yard touchdown run by Darnell Stevenson and a 25-yard field goal. Stevenson’s run came a play after Belleville East stopped Plainfield Central on downs at the 7-yard line.

The Wildcats closed to 10-6 when Anthony Bjorklund picked up a fumble and rambled 28 yards for a touchdown, but the missed extra point proved to be costly. Plainfield Central pulled to 17-15 on a two-yard scoring run by Alonzo Morgan with 3:07 left in the third quarter, but Morgan was stopped on a two-point conversion run.