ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn. --- Crown Football was facing the 3-1 MacMurray Highlanders (3-0 UMAC) on Saturday afternoon and in a thrilling game with twists and turns at every corner,  eventually fell to the Highlanders in the second overtime period as they failed to score to match a MacMurray touchdown. 

The game started out looking to be a low-scoring affair, with only a single touchdown in the first half, happening in the first quarter when MacMurray completed a 20-yard pass for a score. After the break, Crown forced the Highlanders into a three-and-out, which they capitalized on with a 50-yard scoring drive. Senior receiver Anthony Laureno caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from first-year quarterback Devin Westbrook to cap the possession. This game was Laureno's second straight with a touchdown reception. 

The Storm defense then forced a four-play drive, which, once again Crown was able to capitalize on, as they embarked on a massive ten-play, 84-yard drive that took over five minutes off the clock. Sophomore running back Derek Chilcoate was the one to find the end-zone, on a six-yard run to put the Storm up 14-7. 

On their first drive in the fourth quarter, MacMurray drove down the field slowly, taking six minutes and driving all the way to the Crown six-yard line, where the Storm defense stalled their drive, forcing a fourth and goal incompletion. As the Storm took their next possession, they killed the clock to have only 2:23 remaining in the fourth quarter. From there, MacMurray took the ball from the Crown 44 and began their final drive of regulation. Once the Highlanders got it to the Crown four-yard mark, on a third and goal, junior corner Sebastian Alvarado intercepted a pass for a touchdown to seal the game in Crown's favor. However, a holding call on the Storm defense, MacMurray a given a first down and goal on the Crown two, and negated the Crown touchdown. 

In the overtime period, Crown started with the ball and drove down the field and scored a touchdown, set up by a catch from Domonquie Guy that reached the Highlander 1/2 yard line. It took two attempts and a near-fumble, but Devin Westbrook crossed the plane before the ball wasn't secured and scored the opening touchdown of overtime on a QB sneak. On the touchdown, there were two personal fouls on the MC defense, including an ejection of Highlander star defensive end Javon Muhammad, the reigning UMAC Defensive Player of the Year.

MacMurray then had to start from their own 45-yard line as opposed to Crown's 25-yard mark. But it didn't matter as the Highlander rusher took the first snap to the house, tying the game at 21 apiece. 

In the second overtime period, MacMurray started with the ball and drove down the field methodically for the score. Alvarado blocked the extra point, giving Crown a chance to take the game with a touchdown and a converted extra point try. However, they never got the chance as Westbrook was picked off to end the game. 

First-year quarterback Jared Gilmore led the Crown passing attack with 154 yards through the air. Westbrook, who splits time with Gilmore, threw for 100 yards and had one passing touchdown, one rushing touchdown, and one interception. Chilcoate led the ground game with 63 yards on the ground and a touchdown. Laureno led the Crown receiving corps with 117 yards on nine receptions including a touchdown. First-year receiver Domonquie Guy had another great game, with ten receptions for 94 yards. 

Senior Joe Duffy, sophomore Jeremiah Jones, and senior Tyler Byrd led the Crown defense as they all had over ten tackles in the game. Duffy and Byrd both had 1.5 tackles for a loss. Junior Cody Rickets also had a full tackle for loss in the matchup with the Highlanders. Senior Alex Banks had Crown's lone interception, picking off the MacMurray quarterback in the first half. First-year Jason Sroufe and sophomore Corey Huard both had nice games in coverage, both with two deflections. Huard also had a nice game kicking the ball, going a perfect 3/3 on extra points. 

Crown next heads to Greenville for a noon matchup with the Panthers in Greenville, Illinois. The Panthers return from their road trip to host the contest after playing St. Scholastica on Saturday evening.