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Cougars lose thriller in final minute

By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

The chance for a win looked good for most of the game Friday as the Centre Cougars battled Burrton on the road.

But after holding a substantial lead for three quarters, Centre's fortunes were reversed in the fourth. Burrton made up a 26-point deficit to win by two points, 42-40.

According to Coach Kelly Steiner, a couple of turnovers and a fumble hurt the team in the second half. He said the Cougar defense missed a lot of tackles in the fourth quarter.

Despite the loss, Steiner was pleased with his team's effort.

"It was a good game," he said. "Our kids played hard."

Centre scored the first two touchdowns of the game. Brandon Albrecht scored on a six-yard run for six points, and Bryant Brunner ran 10 yards and Albrecht ran for the extra points. After a touchdown and PAT by Burrton, Centre led 14-8.

Burrton did not score in the second quarter. Brunner added six points for Centre on a 14-yard pass from Ben Krause. The Cougars led 20-8 at halftime.

The Cougar defense kept Burrton at bay in the third quarter, not allowing them to score. Centre added eight points on a two-yard run by Brunner and the two-point conversion by Brian Burhoop on a pass from Brunner.

At that point, Centre had a 14-point lead, 28-14, and the Cougars smelled victory.

But the game broke wide open in the fourth quarter, as a total of six touchdowns were scored within the final five minutes of the game.

The score was tied 28-28 after Burrton scored two consecutive touchdowns and two extra points. Centre answered with six points on a 17-yard pass from Krause to Brunner and retook the lead, 34-28.

Burrton scored again and completed the PAT to go ahead by two, 36-34. They then intercepted a pass and returned the ball for another six points and an eight-point lead.

With eight seconds remaining, Centre was down by eight and a loss seemed inevitable. But then Burhoop caught a pass from Krause and ran 33 yards for a touchdown, to trim the deficit to two. A successful PAT would have tied the game, but the run failed.

However, that wasn't the end. Centre had another chance to score when they got the ball back on an onside kick with five seconds remaining.

"I knew we only had time for one play, so we settled for a long pass," Steiner said.

With the team at mid-field, Krause threw a long pass intended for Zach Slayden, who was near the goal line. Steiner said the ball was on course but got tipped slightly by a Burrton defender, preventing Slayden from catching it. The Cougars walked away with a disappointing two-point loss.

The statistics reveal two teams that are fairly evenly matched.

Centre had 37 carries for 107 yards. Burrton had 28 carries for 91 yards. Albrecht was Centre's leading rusher, with 20 carries for 60 yards.

Burrton's biggest advantage was in the air. They had the same number of completions, 18, but threw for 280 yards compared to 208 by Centre. Both teams threw two interceptions.

Troutt was Centre's leading receiver, with one catch for 80 yards, followed closely by Brunner, with six receptions for 76 yards.

Aaron Bowman provided 14 tackles and four assists. Zach Antoszyk had 10 tackles and 11 assists, and Brunner had eight tackles and 14 assists.

The Cougars will face Little River Friday in the last home game of the season.

Steiner is expecting another tough match.

"I think we will be competitive," he said. "But, although they are pretty banged-up, they have a good quarterback and fullback."

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