Jacksonville, Ill. - The Crown College Storm travelled down to Jacksonville, Illinois on Saturday in search of their second conference win against MacMurray College. After an ignominious start where Crown found themselves down 14-0 at the end of the 1
st quarter, Crown would buckle down and outscore the Highlanders 17-0 over the last three quarters to win 17-14 in exciting fashion.
The first quarter was rough for the Crown team as the Highlanders took only 34 seconds to hang 7 points on the Storm. On offense, in Crown's first seven drives, five would end in a punt as they could not get a rhythym going.
Down 14-0 entering the third quarter, both teams exchanged punts before Crown's offense finally found life behind running back
Matt Michaud. Crown would embark on a 13 play, 57 yard drive to break the ice and pull within one score as Michaud barreled in from one yard.
After the defense fell on a Highlander fumble, Crown's offense would capitalize on a seven play, 45 yard drive capped off by another Michaud touchdown run. In the fourth quarter, Crown's defense would hold MacMurray to only four plays and three total yards as Crown's ball control offense held the ball for 13 of the 15 minutes.
Crown would almost pull ahead with 8:36 left as
Chad Anenson's field goal bounced off the right upright to be no good. After Crown forced a three and out, the offense would drive down to the four yard line before the would be game winning touchdown was called back for a holding penalty. Anenson trotted back out to connect from 26 and the game winner with 1.5 seconds remaining.
On the day, Michaud carried 32 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns.
Ryan Synoground completed 15 of 23 passes for 99 yards including one huge fourth down conversion to tight end Chris Pierre-Charles who had three catches for 33 yards.
Defensively, Crown was led by
Eli Dahl with seven solo tackles and
Zach Jusczak with five solo tackles and a sack. Robert Smatnick and
Regan Dvorak both contributed a fumble recovery to a staunch defensive effort that limited the Highlanders to 238 yards and only 12 first downs.
Crown has now won two in a row and will take that streak to New Ulm, Minnesota next week as they travel to play the Martin Luther College Knights.
