Bishop Ryan @ Central Cass

Recap

11A State Quarterfinal Playoffs

Colton Cruchet rushed for 3 touchdowns and the game-winning 2 point conversion with 1:26 to play to give Central Cass a 29-28 victory over Bishop Ryan Saturday in the North Dakota Class A football quarterfinals.

The Squirrels took a 13-0 halftime lead on a 19 yard pass from Brody Kegley to Jake Thompson in the first quarter and a one yard run by Cruchet.

Things got interesting in the second half.  Bishop Ryan took the second half kickoff and scored on a 15 yard pass from Jett Lundeen to Ramsey Walz.  The Lions went ahead 14-13 later in the third quarter when Lundeen scored a 5 yard run.

In the fourth quarter, Bishop Ryan extended their lead after an 11 play, 63 yard drive when Lundeen scored on a one yard run. The Lions were up 20-13.  Central Cass responded with an 18 yard touchdown by Cruchet.  The Squirrels went for a 2 point conversion and got it on a pass from Kegley to Thompson, putting Central Cass in front 21-20 with 5:19 to play.

Bishop Ryan responded as Lundeen threw a 47 yard touchdown pass to Gun Engelhard.  Lundeen ran for the conversion to give the Lions a 28-21 lead with 3:08 to go.

Central Cass then drove 62 yards in 7 plays to score again as Cruchet ran in from 4 yards out.  The Squirrels again went for a two point conversion and got it on Cruchet’s run to make the score 29-28 in the Squirrels’ favor.

Bishop Ryan had one final shot and got as far as the Squirrel 27, when Jake Thompson intercepted a Lundeen pass with 42.9 seconds to play…just getting a foot in bounds to seal Central Cass’s win.

Cruchet ran 27 times for 115 yards and 3 touchdowns for Central Cass.  Kegley completed 17 of 28 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown.  Kale Pearson caught 5 passes for 67 yards.  Central Cass had 169 yards rushing and 201 passing for 370 yards total offense.

Lundeen completed 18 of 26 passes for 216 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.  He also ran 16 times for 71 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Walz caught 5 passes for 95 yards and a TD.  The Lions (8-2) ran for 116 yards and passed for 216 for 332 yards total offense.

Central Cass will travel to Kindred next Saturday at noon for the Class A semifinals.

Comments from Central Cass Coach Tommy Butler: