Concord Minutemen Win Class 5A Sectional Title With 38-14 Victory Over LaPorte

Concord Minutemen secure 38-14 sectional title win over LaPorte

The Concord Minutemen relied on a wave of unexpected performances to secure a 38-14 victory over the LaPorte Slicers on Friday, capturing the Class 5A sectional championship. According to a report from Yahoo Sports, the win was fueled by underclassmen stepping into prominent roles while the team’s regular starting backfield remained sidelined in street clothes.

The victory marks a significant milestone for the Concord program, representing their second straight sectional title and their first since 2018. The Minutemen, who finished the game with a 6-5 record, demonstrated a balanced attack across all three phases of the game—offense, defense, and special teams—to overcome the windy and rainy conditions at Jake Field.

Cade Court emerged as a central figure in the decisive victory, throwing four touchdown passes. His efficiency was on full display during a dominant third quarter that effectively ended LaPorte’s hopes of a comeback. Court’s scoring connections included passes to senior receiver Tavion Beach, Riley Parsons, Harry Brunner, and junior TJ Laroche.

Unsung contributors drive the Concord offense

While the starting lineup faced injuries, the depth of the Concord roster provided the necessary momentum to control the game. Matt Gunawan played a vital role on the ground, recording 101 rushing yards on just seven carries, including a seven-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. His performance included significant gains of 38, 17, and 12 yards during a 71-yard scoring drive.

The special teams unit also provided critical field position. Jayden Yoder contributed through consistent kick and punt returns, including a 35-yard return that set up a short drive for the offense. This momentum allowed Harry Brunner to connect with Court for a four-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead to 31-0 in the third quarter.

The scoring breakdown for the Minutemen is as follows:

Quarter	Concord Scoring Play	Score (C-L)
1st	Tavion Beach 5-yard pass from Cade Court	7-0
2nd	Matt Gunawan 7-yard run	14-0
2nd	Mason Bailey 24-yard field goal	17-0
3rd	Riley Parsons 23-yard pass from Cade Court	24-0
3rd	Harry Brunner 4-yard pass from Cade Court	31-0
3rd	TJ Laroche 25-yard pass from Cade Court	38-0

LaPorte fights back in late fourth quarter

LaPorte struggled to find rhythm for much of the contest, managing only 186 total yards. The Slicers’ offensive efforts were largely concentrated in the final period, where they managed to score two touchdowns to narrow the margin. Reed Raymond led the LaPorte rushing attack with 89 yards on 20 carries, often utilizing a Wildcat position during the first half.

The Slicers’ late surge included a one-yard touchdown run by Raymond and a subsequent seven-yard touchdown run following an onside kick recovery. These two drives accounted for 126 of LaPorte’s total yardage, but they arrived too late to challenge the established Concord lead.

Looking ahead to the 5A regional game

Concord’s momentum carries them into a 5A regional matchup against Chesterton, who also hold a 6-5 record. The Minutemen will host the game at Jake Field next Friday. While the team is dealing with injuries, coach Craig Koehler expressed confidence in the current roster’s ability to compete.

“No one wants to play Concord right now … we would be a tough out,” Koehler said. “We’re playing really well on both sides of the ball and we’re still really banged up. We hope to get a few guys back next week, but we also like where we are right now.”

The coaching staff is looking toward a potential return for former starting quarterback Braylon Monroe, but the recent success of the underclassmen has provided a different tactical look for the team. Koehler noted that the current group’s ability to perform across all three phases of the game has been the deciding factor in their championship run.