St. Bonifacius, Minn. — Illinois' UMAC-affiliate MacMurray College was in town on Saturday for a high-scoring affair. Due to a lightning strike in the area, the game was delayed for 45 minutes in the late first quarter with the game tied at seven. However, after the delay, the scoring started in droves, with Crown eventually falling to the MacMurray Highlanders 34-48. 

MacMurray's reigning 2016 UMAC Offensive Player of the Year Chazz Middlebrook got the scoring started early in the first quarter on a three-yard rush up, capping a six play, 62-yard drive to take an early lead. Crown answered with a touchdown of their own after Jordan Thorn had an interception deep in MacMurray territory. The score didn't come easy as it came on a fourth and goal from the 15-yard line. Senior quarterback Taylor Watkins was able to find receiver David McIntosh for their first score of the game. MacMurray came back with a six-yard touchdown pass to end a ten play, 63-yard drive. The drive was split up by a 45-minute lightning delay after there was a lightning strike recorded nearby. UMAC protocol requires a 30-minute wait before action can resume in instances of nearby lightning strikes. 

On the first play after the Highlander score, Storm receiver Marlon Brown sped around the edge and found a seam for a 55-yard gain, the largest Crown play of the game; two plays later Damien Jeffries was able to locate the end zone on a five-yard run. That touchdown cut MacMurray's lead to one, up 14-13.

In the second quarter, MacMurray put together a ten play, 70-yard drive ending with another touchdown through the air by quarterback Nathan Randall, who had 207 yards in the air and 69 yards on the ground in the game. Crown was down at halftime, 13-21.

After receiving the kick in the third quarter, MacMurray's Middlebrook went to work once again with 45 yards and a touchdown on the ensuing drive, pushing the Highlanders to a two-score lead. Forcing a Crown punt, MacMurray once again put the ball on the ground with Middlebrook and Marquez Ellison to up the lead to three scores. However, down 34-13, Crown showed no quit. The Storm put together an eleven play, 71-yard drive capped by the second score of receiver McIntosh from quarterback Taylor Watkins of the game. On the next possession, the Storm defense forced a three and out on the Highlanders' offense, and after the punter's snap sailed over his head, gained possession on the MacMurray two-yard line. Again with great field position, the Crown team used all four downs to score, with Watkins finding receiver Nick McCormick for the score on fourth and goal to make it a one-score game. 

Unfortunately, the momentum switched back to MacMurray as the Middlebrook added two more touchdowns, including a 66-yarder. Middlebrook ended the game with four touchdowns and 275 yards, showing why he won the UMAC Offensive Player of the Year as he makes his case to repeat. 

Watkins added another touchdown late again finding McIntosh for their third touchdown connection of the game. McIntosh had 69 yards, and three of Watkins' four touchdown passes. Watkins was 18 of 24 for 153 yards in the match. On the defensive side, Jeremiah Jones was everywhere with 15 tackles, Joe Duffy had a forced fumble and two sacks, Tyler Byrd had a tackle for a loss and 11 tackles, and Dan Clipperton forced a fumble.

The Crown football team goes on the road next weekend to face another UMAC-affiliate, Eureka College.