ARTHUR -Three touchdowns by Kody Smith powered the No. 9-state ranked Arthur-Lovington football team to a 24-6 victory over LeRoy in a first-round Class 1A state playoff game Friday night.

The Panthers lost the total yardage battle, 359-138, as their season ended at 7-3. Arthur-Lovington (9-1), the No. 5 seed, will play the winner of today's game between Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley (8-1) and Carthage (6-3).

"Coming into the game, we felt like the team which could get the other team out of their game plan would have a chance to win," said LeRoy coach B.J. Zeleznik. "They ran a reverse in the first quarter and put us behind the eight-ball and we had to play catch-up for the rest of the game."

No. 12-seeded LeRoy's lone score came with 8:03 remaining as Rodney Henson ran in from a yard out. The conversion run failed.

Smith, who carried 13 times for 141 yards, opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 70-yard run. Seth Boddy added the first of three conversion kicks. Boddy made it 10-0 with a 32-yard field goal in the first quarter.

Smith added a two-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and a 12-yard fumble return in the third quarter.

Henson led LeRoy rushers with 35 yards on 12 carries. Ryan Koerner added 29 yards on 11 rushes. Koerner completed 4 of 12 passes for 11 yards. He was intercepted twice.

"I felt like we played well in the second half," Zeleznik said. "Our seniors provided good leadership. Arthur has a good football team and they did what they had to do to win the game. We had a good year and I'm proud of the kids' effort."