Top-ranked Lawrence North’s defense scored 14 points on two Cathedral turnovers Friday night as the Wildcats claimed the sectional six championship, 24-7, over the sixth-rated Fighting Irish. Undefeated LN advances to the tourney’s regional round for the sixth time in school history, traveling to fourth-ranked Brownsburg next Friday. The Wildcats have never advanced to a football semi-state. The Irish received the opening kickoff and moved into field goal range, but Anthony Ludington blocked Van Krisiloff’s 48-yard attempt. Cathedral’s defense intercepted passes by quarterback Tanner Aspeslet on three of the first four Lawrence North drives, but the Irish offense could only gain two first downs. Breck Mallory intercepted and returned a Cameron Koers’ pass 40 yards for a Wildcat touchdown with four minutes remaining in the first half to break the scoreless tie. Lawrence North returned the second-half kickoff 49 yards to Cathedral’s 44-yard line. Two plays later, Izayveon Moore scored on a 36-yard run to extend the LN lead to 14-0. Two plays later, Mallory returned an Irish fumble 24 yards for his second defensive TD of the game. Colton Hughes’ 27-yard field goal ended a 13-play, seven-minute Wildcat drive increasing the margin to 24-0 with less than a minute left in the third period. Jalen Bonds’ 23-yard touchdown run in the game’s closing seconds was the only Fighting Irish scoring play of the night. Koers, who was injured late in the first half and did not return afterward, completed just four of 10 passes for 37 yards. Devaughn Slaughter had three receptions to finish his career with 100 catches, which is the 7th most in school history. Bonds ran for 72 yards on 14 carries, while teammate Xavier Dangerfield rushed for 62 yards on 12 attempts. Moore had 113 yards on 22 carries for Lawence North. Cathedral exits the tournament with a 6-4 record following its first-ever Class 6A sectional loss. Under the Indiana High School Athletic Association’s Success Factor Rule, the Fighting Irish will be reclassified as a Class 5A school for the post-season in 2025 and 2026. In the seven years that the Irish previously have competed in 5A, they’ve compiled a combined 30-3 record and won four state championships. By enrollment, Cathedral is a Class 4A school with the 84th most students in the state.