Jared Waters rushed for 305 yards and three touchdowns Saturday to lead AFNORTH to a 52-28 victory over Sigonella in a European Division III playoff game in Brunssum, Netherlands.

Waters, who broke the 300-yard barrier for the fifth time this season, gained most of his yardage in the first half, according to coach Greg Blankenship.

“He had limited touches in the third and fourth quarters,” Blankenship said. “We wanted to rest him, but their passing game gave our secondary fits. Every time we’d get ahead, they’d hit a touchdown pass and get back into it.”

Adam Presnell threw four TD passes for Sigonella (2-4), completing 13 of 33 passes for 225 yards. Carlos Quinones and Mike Petty each had caught two TD passes while B.J. Washington had 90 yards receiving.

Petty led Sigonella’s defense with 13 tackles and a fumble recovery. Brian Morey added 12 tackles and Donovan Brown 10.

For the Lions (6-0), Sascha Miller carried 17 times for 110 yards and a score. Brock Blankenship, Mike Brooome, Diego Cruz, Alex Allera and Miller “completely eliminated the Sigonella running game,” Blankenship said, adding that Anthony Poole sealed the victory with an interception return for a TD in the fourth quarter.

In D-III quarterfinal games Saturday:

Hohenfels 22, Brussels 12At Hohenfels, Brandon Merriweather had touchdown runs of 2, 4, and 9 yards to lead the unbeaten Tigers into the semifinals.

The game was called at halftime, according to Hohenfels coach Shawn Rodman, because injuries left the Brigands (2-4) with too few players to continue.

Brussels coach Joe Fiedler “said he had a lot of players banged-up,” Rodman said.

Brussels led 6-0 and 12-7 on 2- and 3-yard TD runs by Eric Popp. One of the scores was set up by a Hohenfels fumble on its 1-yard line, according to Rodman.

Hohenfels turned the tables on the III–North champs when Stephen Washington intercepted a pass on the Brigands’ 1-yard line to set up a touchdown.

Ansbach 40, Rota 8At Ansbach, the three-time D-III champs got three TD passes from sophomore quarterback John Willis-Morris in taking a 24-8 halftime lead.

Willis-Morris, whose third-quarter TD run put Ansbach ahead 30-8, hit Xavier Sheppard for a 6-yard score in the first period and connected with Zack Harmon for a 49-yard scoring play in the second. Willis-Morris, who was eight of 17 for 129 yards, ran for two two-point conversions and passed to Harmon for another.

Charles Melton, who carried 14 times for 91 yards, ran 28 yards for Ansbach’s final TD. Sheppard had a game-high 95 yards rushing on 10 carries.

Trey Sledge contributed a 6-yard scoring run for Rota.

Baraka Warweru led Ansbach with 16 tackles. Harmon, who intercepted a Rota pass, and David Zumbach had 10 each, and Jessie Burnside blocked a Rota punt.

Greg Kidd made 11 tackles for Rota (2-4).

London Central 24, Bamberg 6At High Wycombe, England, Foxy Thomas ran for one TD and passed to Clyde Thompson for another as the Bobcats (4-2) advanced to the semifinals.

Dee Marbury and Marvin Fitchett had touchdown runs for London Central.

Bamberg ended its season 3-3.

Division-III semifinals

Saturday, Oct. 29

Ansbach (5-1) at AFNORTH (6-0)

London Central (4-2) at Hohenfels (6-0)

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