A game of inches

After 48 minutes of football, it came down to two 10-yard drives, and one two-point play that would decide the victor and hard-luck loser.

HWC already secured their end of the bargain with a three-yard touchdown from Kayl Sieg on the first possession of overtime, and Carter Laber's kick through the uprights meant Carrington had to score a touchdown in four plays and convert at least an extra point.

Corbin Clifton secured a deflected pass from Josh Bickett from five yards out, and Coach Kyle Smith decided to go for the win.

A bunch formation behind running back Tate Wolsky attempted to provide the heft, but the Hornet defense held Wolsky inches short of the goal line to preserve a dramatic 28-27 win and give HWC both their first triumph and the Cards' first defeat of the 2024 season.

The Class A - Region 2 rivals have played some competitive contests over the last few years, and this season's version delivered on that promise and more.

Hornet quarterback Tallen Thorson started the fireworks on the Hornets' first possession with a long bomb to wide receiver Tyler Swang covering 84 yards. Laber added the kick, making good on all four of those opportunities in the game, to make it 7-0.

Clifton answered back for the Cards with the first of his two four-yard scores in the first half, and the Carrington defense would fluster the fleet-footed Thorson with three interceptions. Two of those went to Maddox McIlonie, and the other was secured by Clifton.

HWC went to their punishing running back for their opening score of the second half, as 215-pound Christian Mertz got an opening and raced in from 30 yards out to give the Hornets the lead back, 14-12.

McKade Zink had a big game rushing for the Cards with 137 yards, and put them back ahead with a 10-yard touchdown for an 18-14 lead.

Once again, the Hornets would not relent, and the Thorson-Swang combo struck again for a 40-yard catch and run to paydirt, so HWC led by three, 21-18, with one quarter to go.

In the waning minutes of the contest, the Cards were driving near the Hornet 10-yard line, and needed one chance to prolong the game.

On stepped kicker Peyton Harrington for his first-ever field goal attempt, and the junior put his icy veins on display with a 29-yard boot that was good, tying the score at 21-21 and forcing the extra untimed possessions.

While not throwing for a big effort (11-for-21 for 105 yards), CHS quarterback Josh Bickett made up for it with his feet, running for 108 yards on 13 attempts.

On HWC's side, Thorson went 5-for-12 for 168 yards, 162 of those to Swang. Sieg rushed for 88 yards on 19 carries, and Mertz had 41 yards on four attempts.

Carrington hosted Park River Area for Homecoming this past Friday, while HWC had a crucial Region 2 contest at home against the Bottineau Braves.

Upcoming games have the Cards traveling to Belcourt to take on Turtle Mountain, and the Hornets' redemption tour continues with a road matchup in Rugby with the Panthers. Both contests kick off from their respective venues at 7 p.m.

Class A - Region 2 Football

HWC 28, Carrington 27 OT

HWC 7 0 14 0 7 28

Cgtn. 6 6 6 3 6 27

First Quarter

HWC: Tyler Swang 84 yard pass from Tallen Thorson (Carter Laber kick)

Carrington: Corbin Clifton 4 yard run (kick blocked)

Second Quarter

Carrington: Clifton 4 yard run (pass failed)

Third Quarter

HWC: Christian Mertz 30 yard run (Laber kick)

Carrington: McKade Zink 10 yard run (run failed)

HWC: Swang 40 yard pass from Thorson (Laber kick)

Fourth Quarter

Carrington: Peyton Harrington 29 yard field goal

Overtime

HWC: Kayl Sieg 3 yard run (Laber kick)

Carrington: Clifton 5 yard pass from Josh Bickett (run failed)

Carrington Statistics

Offense

Passing: J.Bickett 11-21-105 yards-TD-INT

Rushing: Zink 18-137-TD; J. Bickett 13-108; C. Clifton 4-22-2 TD; Tate Wolsky 3-15; Harrington 2-3; Ryder Bickett 1-(-5)

Receiving: C. Clifton 5-49-TD; Zink 3-27; Harrington 1-8; R. Bickett 1-5

Defense

Tackles (unassisted/assisted): C. Clifton (12-3); Wolsky (8-6); Alec Threadgold (4-1); J. Bickett (3-1); Gabe Clifton (3-0); Cody Otto (3-2); Harrington (2-1); Dylan Bachmeier (1-0); Drew Matt (1-2); Maddox McIlonie (1-1); Jacob Hinrichs (0-2)

Interceptions: McIlonie 2, C. Clifton

Tackle for Loss: C. Clifton

HWC Statistics

Offense

Passing: Thorson 5-12-168 yards-2 TD-3 INT

Rushing: Sieg 19-88-TD; Thorson 11-43; Mertz 4-41-TD

Receiving: Swang 3-162-2 TD; Avery Williams 1-8; Jaxon Feist 1-(-2)

Defense

Tackles (unassisted/assisted): Easton Schuh (9-4); Sieg (8-4); Feist (6-1); Dominik Hoffart (3-3); Mertz (5-0); Thorson (3-1); Nixon Buchmiller (2-2); Swang (1-2); Laber (2-1); Frank Richter (2-1); Kiefer Finley (1-1); Rylend Whetzel (1-1); Dylan Heitmann (1-1); Porter Johnson (0-1); Jacob Anderson (1-0); Isaac Keller (1-0); Andrew Williams (1-0)

Sacks: Swang 1, Finley and Sieg 0.5

Interceptions: Feist, Keller

Tackles for Loss: Mertz 2, Finley, Johnson, Sieg