FORT WAYNE – As soon as Snider’s Donavin O’Day put the hit on Homestead quarterback Matt Skowronek that caused the football to pop up in the air, Panthers senior defensive tackle Weston Painter had his eyes on it.

Painter’s interception and 65-yard touchdown return was the big defensive play in the Panthers’ 30-20 win over the Spartans in a Class 5A sectional first-round game Friday. The Indiana State recruit showed off his speed en route to the end zone.

“O’Day hit the quarterback, and I saw it in the air,” Painter said. “My D-line coach always said you can get a steak dinner if you take one back for six, and I saw it and I was off. People were saying I was running out of my shoes almost. I was out of breath for quite a while.”

East Noble QB solid in sectional loss

Senior quarterback Nic Weimer threw for 342 yards and four touchdowns and led East Noble on a valiant comeback that fell just short against Concord in a 38-35 4A sectional loss.

“He couldn’t have done much more all year,” Angola coach Luke Amstutz said. “The type of kid Nic is, when he had to come back and throw it, he threw it and did it beautifully, and when he had to spend the game handing the ball off against New Haven he did that.

“He did exactly what the coaches wanted him to do. Words can’t express how much I’ve appreciated Nic and what Nic means to me.”

Fumbles go Patriots’ way in sectional win

Heritage made the most of a couple of Lakeland miscues in the 42-16 3A sectional win.

Dustin Swaidner and Brenton Lockett returned fumbles for touchdowns. Swaidner – who raced 31 yards for his score – said it was the “best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Lockett went 40 yards for his TD.

“That came out of nowhere,” Heritage coach Dean Lehrman said of Lockett’s touchdown. “He made a great play to knock the ball out of his hands, scooped and scored.”