St. Joseph rode a powerful rushing attack and a statement defensive performance to secure a 20-6 Division 3 district semifinal victory over Zeeland East Friday night at Dickinson Stadium. The Bears controlled the trenches all night, outgaining the Chix 301–94 on the ground to advance in the postseason.

The Bears set the tone early when quarterback Caden LeClear burst free for a 20-yard touchdown run to give St. Joe a 6-0 advantage in the first quarter. After Zeeland East briefly pulled even, the Bears reclaimed momentum before halftime as Ish Dixon powered into the end zone from 16 yards out and then converted the two-point try himself, sending St. Joe to the locker room with a 14-6 lead.

From there, the Bears’ defense clamped down and never let go. St. Joseph tallied six sacks, forced an interception, and allowed zero points over the final three quarters, consistently getting stops on third and fourth down to frustrate the Chix offense. Nate Schmitt’s interception in the fourth quarter halted Zeeland East’s final push and helped seal the win.

St. Joe’s depth on the ground helped finish the job. After a fourth-down conversion kept a late drive alive, Landynn Peterson broke loose for a 25-yard touchdown sprint to put the game out of reach with just over two minutes remaining. Dixon led the way with 102 yards and a score, while Brayden Malone added 110 yards, including a 77-yard first-quarter burst. The victory lifts the Bears to 6-4 and into next week’s district championship showdown with Zeeland West.