By Andrew Harrington

PRESCOTT — Fighting for a playoff spot, Prescott got a massive win Friday, beating a gritty St. Croix Central team 19-14 in the Cardinals’ Homecoming.

“I thought we showed resiliency just to be able to come back and make the one play to win the game,” Prescott Head Coach Jordan Hansen said. “You’ve seen our team all year keep fighting and never give up.”

After a bit of a rock fight for much of the first, senior quarterback Kobe Russell faked a handoff and just booked it up the middle. Defenders forced him off course near the end zone, but the experienced player maneuvered them for a 71-yard score for a 7-0 lead nearing the end of the quarter.

The teams traded punts, and Central took the opportunity when they had it, rushing up the middle for a long score with seven minutes left in the half. The kick was blocked, so Prescott held a 7-6 lead. A great stop from the Prescott defense forced a punt late in the half that was flubbed, giving Prescott the ball inside the 20. It took a fair share of plays, but Russell eventually found the promised land for a 1-yard score up the middle for a 13-6 halftime lead.

Out of the half, SCC marched right down the field with the run, converting a two-point conversion for a 14-13 lead. In need of a defensive stop, the Cardinals flocked over a botched handoff around midfield early in the fourth to take over with good field position.

A spitting image to the 71-yard score from Russell worked to perfection again, getting about 25 for prime field position. The drive that seemed perfect blew up, as two offensive penalties forced a punt from inside midfield. Whether it was the high snap that caused it or it was drawn up that way, Russell faked the punt and threw, which was batted down by the Panther defense.

SCC had the ball with a lead for 8:18 to play. The Panthers brought strictly runs to the table, draining the clock all the way to 2:34 before Prescott forced a turnover on downs. Thankfully for the Cardinals, they would only need a fraction of that time. After being stuffed up the middle on first down, Russell eyed single coverage with junior Reese Stanton and decided to air it out, connecting for a 74-yard touchdown on a streak. Prescott led 19-14 with 1:57 to play.

“We’ve been in a lot of those games in the past where maybe we haven’t won,” Hansen said about the two-minute drill this year. “To break through on one of those is big for our confidence, for our culture, for our football team. They were giving us a certain coverage, and we knew we had a chance to expose them. It took a heck of a throw by Kobe to put him in stride and Reese to catch it with the speed to get to the end zone.”

Hansen credited the offensive line for protecting Russell to throw on the play.

A great kick return got SCC to the 47 with midfield in sight. The Panthers were blown up on two runs, forcing a deep pass on third down which was into double coverage and swiped by Russell out of the receiver’s hands.

“When you play an option team, it takes everybody to do their job and be able to rally to the ball,” Hansen said. “You’ve got to make sure you’re doing every little thing right on defense or they’ll expose you pretty quickly.”

Hansen said the defense made some mistakes; however, when push came to shove, the Cardinal defense got the stops when it was needed.

“You’ve seen us this season just continue to get better from week one all the way till now,” Hansen said. “We’re a lot different football team, and we’re continuing to fight, continuing to put one foot in front of the other.”

Prescott has games against Amery and Baldwin-Woodville remaining. Hansen said they will have to win one to confirm a playoff spot, so they have to keep grinding.

Keywords

Prescott Cardinals,

St. Croix Central Panthers,

football,

Homecoming,

Middle Border