Spanish Springs heads back to McQueen on Friday, Nov. 6, for a 5A North regional semifinal playoff game at 6 p.m.
The No. 4-seeded Cougars (4-6, 2-3) lost to the No. 1 Lancers (7-3, 4-1) by a score of 35-14 on Oct. 29 in the regular-season finale. That win gave McQueen the 5A-North regular-season title and the top playoff seed, the Reno Gazette Journal reported.
The Cougars struggled on both sides of the ball in that loss. Quarterback Kanon Boggs threw for 96 yards with an interception, according to Nevada Sports Net reporter Zack Larsen. Boggs rushed for 75 yards and two touchdowns, but Spanish Springs allowed 521 total yards on defense.
McQueen played that game without starting quarterback Ryder Tucker, who suffered a broken collarbone in a loss to Douglas, the Reno Gazette Journal reported. Sophomore Caeden LaGrone got the start and threw for multiple touchdowns while also scoring on the ground. Joseph Zuccarini and Nico Panelli powered the Lancers' rushing attack.
Tucker's status for the playoff remains unclear.
Spanish Springs carries its first losing league record since 2015 into the postseason. The Cougars went 0-3 against the three other 5A North playoff teams, with losses to McQueen, Bishop Manogue and Damonte Ranch, Larsen noted. The defense allowed an average of 28.4 points per game in league play.
McQueen, meanwhile, moved up from the 4A after winning the state title last season. The Lancers' only league loss came against Douglas.
McQueen coach Matt Marner told the Reno Gazette Journal after the Oct. 29 win that his team rallied around LaGrone the same way it rallied around Connor Cowell, another quarterback who was injured over the summer. The Lancers keep Cowell's jersey on the sideline at every game.
The other 5A North semifinal on Nov. 6 features Damonte Ranch at Bishop Manogue. The 5A North championship game is scheduled for Nov. 13.
