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Apparently someone forgot to tell Amherst that they shouldn't even be in the game, let alone win it. Overcoming an injury to one of the state's top dual-threat quarterbacks, Amherst put on a defensive clinic and got huge plays from a quartet of seniors that propelled them to a 19-7 win over fellow unbeaten Lancaster in the Division 5 state title game.

Ranked as the top two teams in the state at the end of the regular season, Amherst took a big hit when quarterback Chris Zblewski suffered a significant leg injury in the 34-6 win over Colby in Level 4. Despite indications that he may have a shot at playing, Zblewski's injury was too severe to allow him to do more than limp around on the sidelines most of the game.

His fellow seniors certainly picked him up. Midway through the first quarter Caleb Glennon hooked up with Joel Biadasz for a 40-yard touchdown as the Falcons maintained the 7-0 advantage into halftime.

Lancaster was able to move the ball at times and outgained Amherst easily in the first half. But as was the story of the game for them, had big troubles convertin on third and fourth downs.

The Flying Arrows had to resort to a bit of trickeration to get on the board, as a double pass from Nate Tranel to Troy Baker tied the game at 7 with 3:11 left in the third quarter.

Amherst answered right back with a 9-play, 73-yard drive culminating in a 6-yard strike from Glennon to Max Strand. 

Things looked bleak for Lancaster when Amherst lined up for a field goal attempt with just over five minutes left that would ahve put them up by two scores, but as he did in last year's title game, Kile Jerrett blocked the 20-yard attempt. Unfortunately Flying Arrows quarterback A.J. Day threw an interception on the next play, which Amherst took in for another score when Ryan Makuski completed a halfback option pass to Biadasz, resulting in a 19-7 advantage.

Following a Biadasz interception of Day, Zblewski hobbled onto the field to take the final snaps of the game in a modified shotgun victory formation.

Lancaster outgained Amherst 215 to 182, but went just 2 of 12 on third down conversions and 1 of 8 on fourth down conversions. 

It is the first state title for Amherst, who made just the fourth playoff appearance in state history.

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