STURGIS, MI (WTVB) – It wasn’t easy, but the Coldwater Cardinals made it three wins in a row against their arch-rivals from Sturgis in the 101st edition of their long-standing football rivalry. Coldwater needed overtime to nip the Trojans 21-20 Thursday night in the season opener.
The Cardinals took advantage of a Sturgis fumble on their first possession. Two plays later, Dracyn Foster connected with Travon Mitchell from 18 yards out. Nino Galvan’s PAT kick gave Coldwater an early 7-0 lead. Sturgis responded with 6:22 left in the half, on a 6-yard quarterback keeper from Beckett Lamb. The Trojans missed the point-after, and the Cardinals held a 7-6 advantage through halftime and into the fourth quarter.
With 2:12 left in regulation, Beckett Lamb found his brother Hudson on a 10-yard strike, and Sturgis took a short-lived 13-7 lead following the PAT kick. Coldwater responded with 51 seconds left, as Foster threw a 46-yard bomb to Evan Lewis. The ensuing PAT try was blocked, and Sturgis ran out the clock, sending the game into overtime tied 13-13.
The Trojans scored on the opening possession of OT, on a 5-yard Cristian Alvez run, The PAT kick gave Sturgis a 20-13 lead. On Coldwater’s ensuing possession, Royale Fleming scored from 3 yards out, and Foster ran in the game-winning 2-point conversion.
The Cardinals now lead the all-time series 50-49-2. They are now off until their home opener on September 11th against Lansing Waverly. Earlier this week, it was announced that they were unable to get a replacement opponent for their September 3rd contest against Gull Lake after the cancellation of the Blue Devils’ season.
The Trojans will try to snap their 20-game losing streak next Thursday at Pennfield.
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OTHER INTERSTATE 8 SCORES
Harper Creek 38, Lakeview 0
Thornapple Kellogg 25, Hastings 16
Pennfield at Otsego
FRIDAY: Montrose at Marshall
FRIDAY: Loy Norrix at Jackson Northwest
FRIDAY: Parma Western at Jackson
OTHER WOLVERINE CONFERENCE SCORES
Pennfield at Otsego
Coldwater 21, Sturgis 20 (OT)
Charlotte 14, Three Rivers 3
Vicksburg 55, Mattawan 27
FRIDAY: McBain at Edwardsburg
FRIDAY: Niles at St. Joseph
FRIDAY: Paw Paw at Big Rapids
FRIDAY: Dowagiac at Plainwell
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