LA CROSSE — Senior quarterback Ryan Johnson was unleashed by the Aquinas High School football team’s coaching staff, and that was bad news for Osceola on Friday.
The top-seeded Blugolds (11-0) used Johnson’s accuracy to beat the fourth-seeded Chieftains 49-7 in a WIAA Division 4 second-round playoff game at the Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex.
Johnson completed 15 of 19 passes for 270 yards and six touchdowns as Aquinas advanced to the third round next Friday. The Blugolds will host second-seeded Baldwin-Woodville (11-0), which blasted Platteville 61-27 and has scored 118 points in its two postseason games.
Johnson completed three touchdown passes to junior Brady Lee and two to senior Logan Becker, who finished with five catches for 118 yards and an 11-yard touchdown run.
Junior Michael Jones also caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from Johnson.
Lee caught all of his touchdown passes during a 20-point second quarter that gave the Blugolds a 28-7 halftime lead. He caught five passes for 80 yards in the game.
His 32-yard reception gave Aquinas a 20-0 lead, and his 18-yarder came in the closing seconds of the first half. Senior Marcus Klar ran for the conversion after the 18-yarder to cement the halftime lead.
Klar finished with a team-high 75 rushing yards on 13 carries.
Becker had his touchdown run and a 43-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter after catching a 47-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring in the first.
