Dundee-Crown nips Elgin in OT at soggy Memorial Field
It wasn't a pretty win, but Dundee-Crown wasn't concerned with style points.
On soggy Memorial Field in Elgin, the Chargers fumbled 10 times, lost 5 of them, gave up a punt return for a touchdown and threw an interception that was returned for another score. Nevertheless, Dundee-Crown was able to pull out a 19-18, nonconference victory in overtime in Friday's season opener against Elgin, which turned the ball over 7 times itself.
"I'd much rather have a bad game and win than play a good game and lose," Dundee-Crown coach Mike Davis said.
With the game tied 12-12 in overtime, Dundee-Crown got the ball first and scored on its second play. Junior quarterback Tanner Kotlan connected on a 5-yard pass to fullback Mateusz Drozdz, and Josh Boyle's successful point-after kick put D-C ahead 19-12.
Elgin responded immediately. Junior Jordan Dean followed the blocking of fullback Craig McKenzie on the Maroons' first play in overtime to score his third touchdown of the game, a 10-yard run straight up the middle.
Elgin coach Dave Bierman elected to go for the 2-point conversion and the win. Senior quarterback Ryan Parks rolled left on a bootleg, but he was tackled from behind by blitzing Dundee-Crown outside linebacker Ryan Hagan before he could get outside.
"I didn't get touched," said Hagan, a senior. "I lined up on the shoulder of the end and I came open, so I took him down. It feels great to get the win. Our defense did a heck of a job."
Bierman felt going for the win was the right move.
"I talked to (kicker) Jake Meyer, and he said he could do it," Bierman said. "But I thought Ryan running the bootleg would give us a good chance because he would have the option to throw it or run it. But our protection broke down on the edge.
"We just made too many mistakes tonight - turnovers, missed assignments and penalties. Those things will just kill you."
Dundee-Crown held a 12-0 lead after two quarters, helped by 6 Elgin first-half turnovers, including 5 lost fumbles. Parks left the game briefly with an injury in the second quarter, and D-C junior Miles Adkins intercepted backup Jake Meyer's pass on the next play and returned it 32 yards for a 6-0 lead. The extra point kick failed.
Chargers junior Danny Sharp scored with 1:33 left in the half on a 25-yard run to make it 12-0.
Elgin rallied to tie the game in the third quarter. Explosive junior Jordan Dean returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown to halve the lead. He later picked off a Kotlan pass at his own 6-yard line and returned it 94 yards to knot the score.
"It's pretty disappointing to come back and lose," Dean said, "but we have to execute better if we expect to win."