Recap: With scrapes on his biceps, and black smudges on his white jersey, Rochester Lourdes senior linebacker Paul Schroeder looked the part of his team’s leading tackler. A year after watching New London-Spicer’s defense make big plays in a semifinal victory, Schroeder and his teammates took control of the rematch. Lourdes slowed New London-Spicer’s ground game to 3.4 yards per carry and intercepted three passes. “We excelled up front and pushed them back,” said Schroeder, credited with nine tackles and one sack. “To come back after last year – it’s just incredible.” Senior Zach Hillman carried the Lourdes’ offense, rushing for 118 yards and two touchdowns. He capped a scoring drive with 1 minute and 36 seconds before halftime, giving his team a 21-14 lead it would not relinquish.

Key of the game: New London-Spicer coach Dan Essler said a Lourdes’ 4th-and-2 conversion on its second scoring drive “really took us down emotionally.” The Eagles built a 14-0 lead and the Wildcats were forced to play catch up.

The quote: “I don’t know if you can say that. The line was incredible. We had guys fighting through injuries. They gutted it out.” Hillman, deflecting credit for picking up all 84 yards on the drive that put his team ahead 28-14 in the third quarter.

One thing to know: New London-Spicer, which lost in the Prep Bowl last season, returned after graduating 18 starters. Essler praised his guys for a memorable run despite “almost a complete lineup change-over.”

DAVID LA VAQUE

Rochester Lourdes completed an undefeated season with a decisive 35-14 victory over New London-Spicer.

Lourdes (13-0) won the way it has all season: running the football and playing hard-nosed defense.

Zach Hillman rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns for Lourdes, which rushed for 251 total yards. The defense picked off New London-Spicer quarterback Ethan Bohlsen three times.

Lourdes won its third state championship, the most recent coming in 2010. New London-Spicer (11-2) lost in the Class 3A championship game for the second year in a row.