Football: Huge Fourth Allows L-O to Overtake #10 Houston

Late in the third quarter, it looked like #10 in 9-Man Houston (2-0, 3-0) had control. In a key early season South-East contest, the Hurricanes led LeRoy-Ostrander (1-0, 2-0) 50-28. L-O seemed incapable of getting a stop against Houston’s speedy ground attack. But then, the Cardinals put forth an epic fourth quarter. The defense only got stops. And junior quarterback Camden Hungerholt put on a ridiculous show. Both teams had little trouble moving the ball, amassing first downs, and putting points up. In the first half, Houston ran for 155 yards, accrued 15 first downs, and got an 81-yard kickoff-return TD from Zach Olson. At the break, the home ‘Canes led 28-14. Their last score came with just 0:12 on the clock, an eight-play 67-yard drive that took about a minute and was capped by a Morgan Rohweder to Landyn VanGundy 15-yard TD pass. It directly followed L-O cutting the lead to 22-14. Houston then scored on all three of its third quarter possessions; the Hurricanes ran at will with 13 carries, for 131 yards, and 3 TDs. L-O answered with two scores, but still trailed 50-28 with 1:07 left in the third. But the fourth was all Cards. Hungerholt opened the stanza with an 18-yard TD run. After Carter Sweeney posted a key fourth down stop, it took just three plays for L-O to find pay-dirt again. Hungerholt’s sixth TD run of the game, a 41-yarder, cranked up the comeback heat. Houston’s lead was 50-44 (9:36). Cardinal Logan Diemer’s seven-yard tackle for a loss of Zach Olson (making it 3rd and 15) greatly aided another stop, the ‘Canes’ first punt. It then took just one play for L-O to score, as Hungerholt streaked 62 yards. Ryder Stern then line-drived the extra punt thru (the game’s only PAT) and L-O took the lead 51-50! It was their first since 8-6. Houston opened their next drive with a big pass to near midfield, but a fumble gave L-O the ball back. They then put together the game-clinching drive, going 57 yards in nine plays. They overcame a 2nd and 30. A Hungerholt 17-yard scramble on 3rd and 18 and a Houston encroachment penalty on 4th and one were key. Hungerholt capped the drive with a 14-yard TD run. His conversion run (which was from the 1 ½ yard-line per a penalty) iced the game, making it a nine-point affair. L-O racked up their second straight huge fourth quarter to post a 59-50 win. Hungerholt’s numbers were off the chain; 32 carries, 375 yards, 8 TDs. He increased his yardage every quarter including posting an 11-carry, 202 yards, 4 TD fourth. The Cardinals line of Malyk Schaefer (285), Mason Diemer (275), Spencer Goodale (235), and Ryder Stern (200) wore on the smaller ‘Canes. Hungerholt was also 12 of 24 for 193 yards passing, hitting Sweeney (9-91 receiving) and brother Reid Hungerholt (3-47 receiving) most often. Defensively, Schaefer had two sacks, a force, and a recovery. Houston was led by Maddox Rodriguez (29-200, 2 TDs rushing, 4-63 receiving), who posted his third 100-yard game of the year. Rohweder (10 of 19, 160 yards, TD, INT), Aden Kulas (15-80, 2 TDs rushing), and Z-Olson (6-30, TD rushing, 4-46 receiving) helped. L-O racked up 580 yards offense (193 passing, 387 rushing) and 26 first downs. Houston piled up 441 yards offense (160 passing, 281 rushing) with 24 first downs. L-O (2-0, 3-0) stays perfect with Spring Grove (3-0, 4-0), and Kingsland (2-0, 3-0) atop the South-East. Houston (2-1, 3-1) and Southland (2-1, 3-1) have one loss. The Cardinals have scored 63, 63, and 59 points in their first three games. The win allowed L-O to replace Houston at #10 in 9-Man in the state polls.