Tigers defeat Cromwell in season finale

     Nevis received contributions from the offense, defense and special teams to hand Cromwell its first 9-man football loss of the season last Wednesday night and gain a share of the Great Northern Conference title.

     The offense compiled 383 yards, the defense held Cromwell scoreless over the final 20 minutes and the special teams contributed a touchdown as the Tigers ended the regular season with a 32-18 victory.

     Cromwell, which entered the game rated No. 4 in the state 9-man poll, jumped out to a 12-0 lead before the Tigers rallied for the win.

     On the opening series, the Tigers used a 14-yard catch by Courtland Chase, an 8-yard run by Austin Becker and a 15-yard personal-foul penalty to reach the Cromwell 44. However, an interception by Austin Pfisthner ended that drive.

     The Cardinals opened the scoring with a 10-play, 73-yard drive on their second series of the game. A 19-yard run by Pfisthner, a 21-yard run by Tyler Hakamaki, an 8-yard catch by Pfisthner on fourth-and-4, and two carries for 12 yards by Zion Smith set up an 8-yard pass from Smith to Brandon Fairbanks. That gave the Cardinals a 6-0 lead with 2:31 to play in the first quarter.

     On the ensuing kickoff, Gavin Becker broke free for an 83-yard kickoff return, but that touchdown was nullified by a holding penalty. Cromwell’s defense held and forced a punt.

     Cromwell followed with a nine-play, 36-yard scoring drive. Smith rushed for 21 yards and hit Pfisthner on an 11-yard route to the 2 before Hakamaki’s 1-yard TD run gave the Cardinals a 12-0 lead with 9:02 to play in the first half.

     Nevis controlled the rest of the first half to carry the lead into the break.

     An 18-yard run by Austin Becker, a pass-interference penalty and a 22-yard run by Gavin Becker set up a 7-yard TD pass to Griffin Chase. That cut the gap to 12-6 with 5:25 to go in the first half.

     After forcing Cromwell to punt, the Tigers drove 54 yards in four plays to take the lead. Kiefer Miller broke free up the middle for a 45-yard TD run on fourth-and-1. Gavin Becker caught the conversion pass as Nevis led 14-12 with 1:59 remaining before the intermission.

     The Tigers had another opportunity to score when Courtland Chase blocked a punt at the Cromwell 34. A 9-yard run by Austin Becker on fourth-and-6 and an 11-yard catch by Griffin Chase led Nevis to the 10, but the Tigers failed to score on fourth down on the final play of the half.

     Cromwell opened the second half with a nine-play, 63-yard drive to reclaim the lead. An 18-yard run by Hakamaki, a 9-yard run by Smith, a 9-yard run by Hakamaki and a 13-yard run by Smith led to a 6-yard TD run by Smith. With 8:18 to play in the third quarter, the Cardinals held an 18-14 lead.

     Nevis regained the lead and the momentum when Hunter Darchuk returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a score. That gave the Tigers a 20-18 lead at the 8:04 mark.

     Gavin Hitchcock then recovered a fumble at the Cromwell 40, but the Tigers couldn’t capitalize and had to punt.

     Nevis’ defense held and forced the Cardinals to punt. An 11-play, 70-yard drive followed as the Tigers extended their lead.

     Gavin Becker’s 6-yard catch, Austin Becker’s 3-yard run and Miller’s 10-yard run produced first downs before Austin Becker rushed 29 yards to the 1. Miller plunged in from 1 yard out as the Tigers led 26-18 with 11:21 to play.

     The Tigers’ defense forced a fumble, which was recovered by Hitchcock, and forced a punt on Cromwell’s next two possessions before Nevis sealed the win with a 69-yard scoring drive.

     A 14-yard run by Gavin Becker and a 15-yard run by Miller set up a 4-yard TD run by Miller as Nevis concluded the scoring.

     Austin Becker rushed 24 times for 185 yards and Miller finished with 98 yards on 19 carries as the Tigers gained 331 yards on the ground. Austin Becker completed 7 of 18 passes for 52 yards with Griffin Chase hauling in four receptions for 29 yards.

     Defensively, Miller was in on nine tackles, Courtland Chas was in on seven tackles and Hitchcock made six tackles.

     The win gave Nevis a 7-1 record to tie Cromwell for the conference title.

Cromwell            6      6    6    0…18

Nevis                  0     14   6   12…32

SCORING

C–Fairbanks 8 pass from Smith (run failed)

C–Hakamaki 1 run (pass failed)

N–G. Chase 7 pass from A. Becker (pass failed)

N–Miller 45 run (G. Becker pass from A. Becker)

C–Smith 6 run (pass failed)

N–Darchuk 85 kickoff return (pass failed)

N–Miller 1 run (pass failed)

N–Miller 4 run (run failed)

NEVIS OFFENSIVE STATISTICS

RUSHING: A. Becker 24-185, Miller 19-98, G. Becker 3-40, Darchuk 1-4, G. Chase 1-3, Hitchcock 1-1.

PASSING: A. Becker 7-18-2 for 52 yards.

RECEIVING: G. Chase 4-29, C. Chase 1-14, G. Becker 2-9.

NEVIS DEFENSIVE STATISTICS

SOLO TACKLES: Miller 6, C. Chase 5, G. Becker 4, Spenst 4, Hitchcock 3, Howze 3, A. Becker 2, G. Chase 2, Gross 2, Godwin 2, Scoutan 2, J. DeWulf 1, Queenan 1, Landquist 1.

ASSISTED TACKLES: Hitchcock 3, Miller 3, C. Chase 2, Gross 2, Howze 2, A. Becker 1, G. Becker 1, Spenst 1, Sandlin 1, Queenan 1, Godwin 1, Scoutan 1.

INTERCEPTIONS: G. Chase 1.

FUMBLE RECOVERIES: Hitchcock 2.

BLOCKED PUNT: C. Chase 1.