Once they reached the end zone, they took a knee and head coach Tom Langworthy addressed them.

It was the kind of chat that the longtime Red Raider mentor would have preferred to delay several weeks, but the rival Legends had other ideas.

Lancaster scored a touchdown on its very first offensive play, led 15-0 at halftime and put the game away with two more scores in less than a minute of the third quarter en route to a 36-7 victory over the Red Raiders in the Section VI Class AA semifinal on Friday night.

The win advances the second-seeded Legends (9-1) into the title game against No. 1 Bennett — a 62-22 winner over No. 4 Orchard Park last night — at 7:30 p.m. next Friday at Highmark Stadium. No. 3 Jamestown ends its season 7-3.

Jamestown running back Chase Bonta looks for room to run against Lancaster in the Section VI Class AA semifinals at Foyle-Kling Field on Friday. P-J photo by Tim Frank

“(Lancaster) sustained their offense better than we did and they got stops better than we did,” Langworthy said. “Credit to them. They played a good game. … We planned on winning the game, we liked our game plan, but we just didn’t execute it to get the win.”

In contrast, the Legends did.

Jayden Colon connected with Sebastian Perna on a 77-yard pitch and catch on Lancaster’s first snap; Alex Krupa tossed a pair of touchdown passes; Jack Speyer had a pick-six; and Daniel Ahearn added a 3-yard TD as the program secured its eighth straight trip to the title game at the home of the Buffalo Bills.

Meanwhile, Jamestown, which won the Class A sectional title in 2022, avoided the shutout in the closing minutes when quarterback Jack Carlson connected with Aidan Senear on a 12-yard touchdown pass.

“We had our chances,” Langworthy said, “but then things started to dry up for us in the red zone. … There were some breakdowns that put us behind schedule. … One thing we’ve had to do is stay on schedule with those third and shorts to keep the sticks moving.

“I thought against Bennett and Orchard Park we did that well and tonight we didn’t do that well enough.”

After Langworthy talked to the entire squad postgame, he and the rest of the coaching staff greeted each of the seniors individually.

“When you wrap up the season, it’s time to take the foot off the gas for a second and thank the guys for all their hard work,” he said. “It’s always emotional when you see the seniors play their last game.”

But, in the end, Langworthy, who just completed his 16th season at the helm, was looking at the bigger picture.

“The mission of the program, the first priority isn’t winning,” he said. “It’s building people of character. Tonight the biggest priority was winning. That didn’t get done tonight, but the main mission is going to be accomplished.”

NOTES: Keith Miller led the Red Raiders with 92 yards on 22 carries, while Chase Bonta added 67 yards on 15 trips. … Bonta and Carson Panebianco led Jamestown’s defense with 14 tackles apiece, while Cole Bloomquist collected 12. … Ella Propheter booted the extra point after Jamestown’s lone touchdown. … Lancaster was led on the ground by Chris Gill, who rushed 18 times for 136 yards, including 120 in the second half. Gill aso had a two-point conversion run. … Cannon Converse was successful on all five of his point-after kicks for the Legends.

Jamestown 0 0 0 7 — 7

Lancaster 15 0 14 7 — 36

Lan–Perna 77 pass from Colon (Gill run)

Lan–Minsterman 20 pass from Krupa (Converse kick)

Lan–Willard 16 pass from Krupa (Converse kick)

Lan– Speyer 20 interception return (Converse kick)

Lan–Ahearn 3 run (Converse kick)

Jam–Senear 12 pass from Carlson (Propheter kick)