St. Bonifacius, Minn. – The Crown football team jumped out to a 12-0 lead against the visiting Martin Luther College Knights on Saturday but couldn't make the lead stick, eventually falling by a final score of 35-18. 

The game started off with a bang for the Storm, but it looked like it would be MLC who would jump out to an early lead.  After a 48 yard punt return set the Knights up with a first and goal opportunity, Noe Urrea dropped the MLC quarterback for a 10 yard loss.  After a pair of incomplete passes brought up a tough fourth and goal situation from the Crown 18 yard line, Rudy Criner stepped up and made history.

The second year defensive back came up with an interception about two yards deep in his own end zone and raced the length of the field for a pick-six and the longest INT return in school history.  Estimated at 102 yards, Criner easily eclipsed the previous mark of 84 yards set by Sebastian Alvarado in 2012.  More importantly, it got Crown out to an early 6-0 lead after the point after attempt failed. 

The Crown defense forced a three and out on the next series but an excellent punt backed the Storm up inside their own ten for the start of their drive.  Josh Wallace quickly helped tilt the field as he ran for 23 yards on the first play.  After a seven yard connection from Jared Gilmore to Ryan Swecker and a big third conversion for 25 yards from Gilmore to Cole Mistretta, Wallace gained another four on the ground.  That set up a 33 yard touchdown strike, Gilmore to Swecker and Crown led 12-0 after again failing to capitalize on the extra point. 
Martin Luther would answer back on the ensuing drive, scoring on a 54 yard touchdown run up the left sideline by Carson Oestreich, making the score 12-7. 
After a turnover on downs, MLC took over in great field position with a chance to take the lead.  Thanks in part to a couple of unfortunate pass interference penalties, the Knights would score on a one-yard touchdown plunge after a 12-play, 39-yard drive. 

The Crown offense nearly re-took the lead, but their drive stalled deep in MLC territory and ended with another turnover on downs at the Knights five yard line. 
The Knights would get the last score of the half, bookended by a pair of Gilmore interceptions and the half would end with the visitors holding a 21-12 lead. 
The Crown defense would once again provide a spark to open the second half, and again Criner was at the center of the action.

On MLC's first play from scrimmage in the half, Isaac Herron stripped Oestreich and Criner came up with the fumble recovery, his second takeaway of the game. 
With momentum back on the home team's side, Gilmore led the Storm deep into MLC territory again.  After a pass interference penalty gave Crown a first and goal at the MLC two yard line, the visitors held strong, making a couple of big stops at the goal line and eventually forcing another turnover on downs to retain possession and their 21-12 lead. 

With 90 yards to cover, the Knights embarked on a time consuming drive, but again, the Storm held firm and captured another takeaway, this time with Quis Icon falling on an MLC fumble to give Crown the ball inside their own 20 yard line. 

After a Crown punt, the visitors would extend their lead on a 17 yard touchdown pass from Max Nordlie to Zach Arndt making the score 28-12 with 3:31 left in the third quarter. 
The Knights would again extend the score, this time on a six yard TD run by Oestreich on the first drive of the fourth quarter to make things 35-12.

After a Crown fumble, Criner continued his monster day on the defensive side of the ball, this time forcing a fumble that was recovered by Gabe Banks. 

A turnover on down and an MLC punt put the ball back in Crown's hands with just over half of the fourth quarter remaining and Gilmore led the Storm on perhaps their best drive of the game, marching 80 yards in 12 plays and capping things with a 13 yard touchdown pass to Terry Warner. 
Unfortunately, that would wrap up the scoring as the Knights prevailed, 35-18. 

Gilmore led the offense through the air with 306 yards passing and two touchdowns, while Mistretta once again ecliplsed 100 yards with eight catches for 109.  Swecker had 12 grabs for 94 yards and the touchdown. 

The Story of the game was the play of Criner who contributed directly to three takeaways and was second on the team with nine tackles, along with that record-breaking interception return.  Herron, Icon, and Millicent Grear each recorded a sack, while Jesse Synoground had two sacks and a forced fumble on the afternoon.  Banks led the team with 10 stops in addition to his fumble recovery. 

The Storm will look to get into the win column next week as they travel to Morris for a re-match with the Cougars in what should prove to be a very competitive game.