MIDDLEFIELD, Ohio — The Hillsdale football team journeyed on a four-hour round trip Saturday, but it was worth it.
The No. 12-seed Falcons scored two touchdowns in the final 3:24 to shock No. 5 Middlefield Cardinal with a thrilling, 12-7 come-from-behind victory in a Division VI, Region 21 football playoff opener.
Neither team scored in the first half in what would be a game-long defensive struggle. The Huskies took their only lead when Zach Czako darted five yards for a score to open a 7-0 edge with 8:52 showing in the third period.
It stayed that way until Hillsdale’s Ethan Goodwin scored on a 6-yard run with 3:24 remaining. But the Falcons were denied on the two-point conversion and that left it at 7-6.
Hillsdale had a final chance, and took full advantage of it. Goodwin plunged in from the 2 with just 52 seconds remaining. The conversion again failed, but it didn’t matter as the Falcons hung on for the 12-7 decision.
The Falcons (7-4) have now won four straight games.
The defenses dominated for both squads, who were limited to six first downs apiece.
Hillsdale finished with 138 yards of total offense, compared to 112 for the Huskies.
Falcons’ quarterback Jake Hoverstock led the way, rushing for 26 yards, while Presley Lewis added 25 on the ground. Hoverstock completed 3-of-12 passes for 51 yards. Max Vesper had 32 receiving yards, and Lewis chipped in 16.
Cardinal came into this game hot, having won five of their last six. But Hillsdale shut them down, allowing only 20 yards passing.
The Huskies finished the season 7-4.
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