Mabel-Canton’s football season is likely to end at 5-5. But the campaign will be remembered because of a couple late game wins. Versus rival Lanesboro in week eight, momentum ebbed and flowed. The Cougars had more in the first half (eight first downs). In the first quarter, a Drew Wyffels 10-yard TD scramble on third and six was the game’s opening score. Lanesboro had just two first half first downs. One came on a second quarter 85-yard Carson Schwichtenberg TD run. Things were knotted 6-6 at halftime. Lanesboro seemingly grabbed “uncle-mo” early in the third quarter. Schwichtenberg went 56 yards to pay-dirt. But the run was annulled by a very silly, behind-the-play, penalty. The Burros later fumbled, M-C recovery. Ryan Kuhn’s ensuing 58-yard TD run, plus Wyffels two-point pass to Blake Henry, made it 14-6 Coug’s. Lanesboro’s Connor Ruen returned the subsequent kick-off to mid-field, and, a couple plays later, scored on a 25-yard run. The Burros failed to convert and trailed 14-12. M-C fumbled the ensuing kick-off, Burro recovery. Schwichtenberg went 30 yards on the very next play. He capped the series with a third and goal 2-yard TD run. With conversion, Lanesboro grabbed its first lead late in the third, 20-14. Back-to-back M-C series were then stonewalled. When the Cougars took over, 1st and ten at their own 20 early in the 4th, Lanesboro seemingly was in control. But Karl Urbaniak’s crew dug deep for a 13-play, 80-yard drive. Included were five first downs (four more than M-C had in the second half previously). Gavin Johnson’s 1-yard TD plunge tied the game at 20-20. The PAT was blocked (but also hit the right goal-post). It seemed Lanesboro’s time to reply, but they fumbled on their first offensive play. M-C then marched 50 yards in seven plays. There was a controversial non-fumble; the ball was out (Burro recovery), but forward progress was ruled stopped. With 17 seconds left, Johnson authored his second 1-yard TD run of the fourth. M-C prevailed 26-20! Johnson (29-106, 2 TDs rushing) worked very hard for his yards, the same for Kuhn (17-103, TD rushing). Wyffels (7-11, 92 yards passing, rushing TD, two FRs) had four runs for nine-plus yards (his yardage took big hits via sacks and TFLs). Schwichtenberg (11-149, 2 TDs rushing, 6-12, 60 yards passing) and Ruen (4-30, TD rushing; 4-40 receiving; 3-88 kick-off returns) led Lanesboro. The Burros collected six sacks. Riley Cambern had three. Lanesboro lost five fumbles, M-C one. Wyffels and Brandon Schneider each had two recoveries. It was the Cougars second dramatic win. They beat L-O in overtime in week two. M-C (3-4, 4-4) is Section 1 9-Man’s 5-seed and will head to 4-seed Cleveland (5-3). Lanesboro (2-5, 3-5) is the 6-seed and will head to 3-seed GM (6-2).
Cougars Beat Burros in Final Seconds
