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.
On the night, Foster was 16-of-25 passing for 225 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Lewis had 10 receptions for 155 yards and a score, and Travon Mitchell had 3 catches for 37 yards and a TD. Sturgis’s defense held the Cardinals’ ground game to 21 net yards; leading rusher Landon Dirschell finished with 6 carries for 15 yards. Trevor Mitchell led the defense with 12 tackles and a fumble recovery, while Cooper Golematis had 8.
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.
Sturgis quarterback Beckett Lamb was 4-of-6 for 23 yards and a touchdown. Liam McKinney successfully completed a 43-yard halfback option pass to Darren Speelman, who finished with two catches for 51 yards, and Hudson Lamb had three receptions for 10 yards and a score. The Trojans amassed 165 yards on the ground; Christian Alvez did most of the work, finishing with 32 carries for 133 yards and a TD. Defensively, Hudson Lamb had a team-high 7 tackles.
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
Otsego 13, Pennfield 12
FRIDAY: Marshall 58, Montrose 54
FRIDAY: Loy Norrix 33, Jackson Northwest 30
FRIDAY: Parma Western 20, Jackson 12
OTHER WOLVERINE CONFERENCE SCORES
Otsego 13, Pennfield 12
Coldwater 21, Sturgis 20 (OT)
Charlotte 14, Three Rivers 3
Vicksburg 55, Mattawan 27
FRIDAY: Edwardsburg 55, McBain 20
FRIDAY: St. Joseph 29, Niles 20
FRIDAY: Paw Paw 13, Big Rapids 7
FRIDAY: Plainwell 32, Dowagiac 18
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