Edwardsburg was effective in the air and on the ground in its 50-20 win over Lakeshore in the Division 3 district championship round of the state football playoffs.

The Eddies (11-0) were also good on defense too, forcing Lakeshore into several turnovers, including intercepted passes by senior defensive backs Juchaun Fox and Keshaune Rucker, and a fumble recovery by senior Spencer Plummer.

It all added up to another blowout win by the Eddies, who will play at Chelsea Friday in the regional final. Chelsea defeated Coldwater on a late touchdown to win 27-20.

“This (win) was very exciting,” said Edwardsburg coach Kevin Bartz. “We came up a little short last year against St. Jo in the district finals. A rematch with Lakeshore this year — I thought our kids stepped up defensively.

“Our defensive backs in particular took the pass away from them all night with interceptions and knock downs.”

Edwardsburg quarterback Cameron Ekanayake threw three touchdown passes and added another score with his legs, sprinting 53 yards to put his team ahead 43-14 with 8:26 remaining.

Edwardsburg junior Nick Bradley caught two of Ekanayake’s touchdown passes — in distances of 11 yards and 53 yards — while Joe Raab was on the receiving end of a 5-yard touchdown strike from the senior quarterback.

The Eddies have not thrown the ball much this year, but coach Bartz said Lakeshore’s decision to focus on stopping the run forced his team to look to the air for productivity.

“We probably threw more tonight than we have all season. That was them loading up the box with nine people,” he said.

That does not mean the Eddies did not find success on the ground.

Junior running back Kyle Shrider broke through multiple tackles as he scored the game’s first touchdown on a 60-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter.

Bradley broke loose for a 71-yard touchdown run just before the end of the third quarter to give the Eddies a 36-7 lead.

Edwardsburg junior Devin Pulling padded the lead with an 11-yard touchdown run with 1:30 to play.

The Eddie rushed for 385 yards, led by Kyle Shrider’s 112 yards on 10 carries. Ekanayake was 6-of-7 for 137 yards and three touchdowns.

Nick Bradley hauled in touchdown passes for 52 and 11 yards, while Joe Raab caught a 52-yard touchdown pass.

The Lancers (7-4) were held to 293 yards of total offense.

Austin Cline had 10 tackles to lead the Eddies, who also got nine tackles each from Spencer Plummer and Chase Tarwacki.

 

EDWARDSBURG 50, LAKESHORE 20

At Edwardsburg

Lakeshore                  0     7     0     13 – 20

Edwardsburg 22     8     6     14 – 50

E – Kyle Shrider 60 run (Shrider run).

E – Nick Bradley 52 pass from Cameron Ekanayake (Ekanayake pass to Joe Raab).

E – Raab 52 pass from Ekanayake (run failed).

L – Logan Adams 28 pass from Joel Brawley (Robert Dente kick).

E – Bradley 11 pass from Ekanayake (Shrider run).

E – Bradley 70 run (run failed).

L – Connor Brawley 9 pass from Joel Brawley (Dente kick).

E – Ekanayake 48 run (Bradley run).

L – Corey Hampton 3 run (kick failed).

E – Devin Pulling 11 run (run failed).

Varsity records: Lakeshore 7-4, Edwardsburg 11-0.