Miscues Hurt Cromwell In 17-14 Loss

Oct 3

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

The Cromwell Cardinals and the McGregor Mercuries met in a nine man section match up in which the winner would hold a firm hold on the section standings with the playoffs fast approaching.

The Cardinals and the Mercuries battled Friday night in McGregor in a game filled with mistakes and miscues, which would cost Cromwell. In the end, it was McGregor’s Preston Hurd who kicked a 26 yard field goal with less than a minute to play to win the game for the Mercuries by a score of 17-14.

Cromwell stopped McGregor on the game’s opening possession and then would march down the field and take an early 6-0 lead on a 1 yard touchdown run by John Schliauter. The two point conversion was no good and Cromwell led by six. Following a Cromwell fumble, McGregor, who was facing a 4th down and 4 on the Cromwell 47 yard line, faked a handoff up the middle. This allowed quarterback Zerek Marsyla to connect with a wide open Hurd on the near sideline, who walked into the end zone untouched to tie the score at 6-6. Hurd served double duty by kicking the extra point putting the Mercuries 7-6 at the end of one quarter.

Following another fumble by Cromwell, the Mercuries scored again before half as Alex Carlstrom rumbled in for a 3 yard touchdown run. This score and extra point put McGregor ahead 14-6 at the half. Cromwell tied the game in the third quarter on a 4 yard touchdown run by Jordan Smith and a two point conversion.

With the game tied at 14-14, another Cromwell fumble set up the game winning field goal. Facing a third down and 12, Garrett Collins scampered 65 yards putting the Mercuries in Cromwell territory. Starting with three minutes to go, Mcgregor began to milk time off the clock and ultimately Hurd kicked the game winning field goal with 36 seconds remaining.

With the first loss of the season, Cromwell falls to 4-1 and will face Isle (4-1) at home
on Friday. McGregor improves to 5-0 on the season and will play at Floodwood (4-1) Friday night.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at Dwight@northlandsportsonline.com