Drew Barth Leads Third Quarter Charge as Eureka Downs Crown, 17-3
The Crown College Storm welcomed Eureka to town on Saturday afternoon, and this was a classic defensive battle for most of the contest. Neither team could generate much offense through the first 30 minutes, as the two teams headed to the break tied at three. However, two third quarter touchdown passes by Drew Barth put the Red Devils on top and they would be victorious in the hard fought battle, 17-3.
The defenses took charge of this game from the very start. The first five possessions on the afternoon ended in punts, all in the first quarter, as 45 total yards of offense were generated. The Red Devils would begin their third possession of the game at their own 30 and would begin to move the ball. They would move into Crown territory and looked like they would move into score, however, on second and 9 at their own 43 they would turn the ball over. Barth hit Josh Kuse for eight-yards, but Parker Cramer stripped him of the ball and Joel Silva recovered at his own 49.
The Storm would then move the ball to the Eureka nine. Ryan Synoground passed to Jacob Pardee for 23-yards to start the possession, but the drive would stall six-plays later. Chad Anenson hit a 26-yard field goal and the Crown College Storm led 3-0.
Eureka would respond to tie the score. LeAnthony Reasnover carried the ball six times on the drive for 21-yards as one of the UMAC’s top backs struggled for every yard against the Crown College defense. Their drive would stall at the Crown 16, and Tyler Winders hit a 33-yard field goal to tie the game. That would be the score at the half.
Eureka received the opening kickoff to start the second half. They would begin at their own 14 as Reasnover and Barth led the drive. The running back carried the ball six times for 15-yards and Barth completed three passes for 55-yards and ran for 11-more. On third and goal at the six the two would hookup as Barth passed to Reasnover for the score.
On their next possession the Red Devils would extend their lead. The Storm went for it on fourth and 6 at the Eureka 38, but Synoground’s pass was incomplete. That gave the Red Devils the ball and six-plays later they would reach the end zone. Barth’s 22-yard pass to Josh Mead closed off the drive to make it 17-3. That is how the game ended.
The Eureka defense held the Crown offense to just seven first downs and 172 total yards of offense. Ray Vogel had 1.5 sacks. On offense the Red Devils got 103-yards on the ground by Reasnover on 31-carries. Barth finished 18-26 for 197-yards and 2-touchdowns.
The Crown defense was led by Elliot Wiens. The senior made 15-tackles. Chris Strange, Isaac Edlund, and Jalen Phoenix each had 7-tackles.
Crown College heads to Jacksonville, IL next Saturday to take on MacMurray. Kickoff is 12 PM.
By Robert Pannier