RUNDOWN – Decatur’s Kevin Lindsay (72) and Austin Givens (13) chase down a Krum runner Friday. The Bobcats won 45-34. Messenger photo by Joe Duty
Costly turnovers and over 120 yards in penalties kept the Eagles from completing the second-half comeback.
“First half the three turnovers and penalty yardage killed us,” Decatur coach Kyle Story said. “Second half we battled and tried to get back in it but they would come right back with a big play. That killed us when we thought we had a chance to get back in it.”
Decatur kept it close early, tying the game at 6-6 with a 39-yard touchdown catch by Cain Lowe. It was the first of three touchdown receptions on the night for Lowe. He also threw for another score.
Krum took advantage of Decatur mistakes the rest of the first half. Early in the second quarter Krum struck again when Reed Flores scored from one yard out to give the Bobcats a 13-6 lead.
Two plays later, Krum took advantage of one of three Eagle turnovers. Quarterback Grayson Muehlstein fumbled the ball and Krum’s Morgan Spray Berry picked up the loose ball and returned it 46-yards for the touchdown, taking the score to 20-6.
The Eagles began to mount another drive right before the half but a Krum interception turned things around. The Bobcats took advantage of the turnover and drove right down the field. Caz Wojciak capped off the drive with a three-yard run, giving Krum a 27-6 halftime lead.
Decatur came out on fire in the second half offensively. Muehlstein started the scoring by finding Cain Lowe for a 15-yard touchdown strike.
The Eagle defense could not come up with a stop though, as Wojciak answered right back with a 5 yard touchdown run taking the Krum lead to 33-13.
Decatur used trickery for its next score, when Lowe threw a 72-yard touchdown off the double pass to Ben Blattner, getting the Eagles back to within 33-20. Lowe ended the night with 195 all-purpose yards.
“He played great,” Story said about Lowe’s performance. “He was exhausted over here on the sidelines after catching all those balls. He did a great job tonight.”
Again Krum came right back converting a third-and-26 with a 62-yard touchdown pass from Wojciak to Tanner Rankin making the score 39-20.
Decatur answered with a Muehlstein 3-yard touchdown run getting the Eagles right back in it at 39-27.
It only took Krum one play to put the game away for good. Flores took it in from 50 yards out giving the Bobcats a 45-27 advantage.
Decatur would add one more score with under a minute to play, when Muehlstein hooked up with Lowe for an eight-yard touchdown.
NICE CATCH – Krum’s Angel Martinez Hauls in a touchdown pass against Ben Blattner. Messenger photo by Joe Duty
Krum … 6 … 21 … 6 … … 12-45=
Decatur … 6 … 0 … 7 … … 21-34
FIRST QUARTER
Krum – Brennan Ellis 6 pass from Caz Wojciak; kick failed
Decatur – Lowe 39 pass from Grayson Muehlstein; kick failed
SECOND QUARTER
Krum – Reed Flores 1 run; Spray Berry kick
Krum – Spray Berry 46 fumble return; Spray Berry kick
Krum- Wojciak 3 run; Spray Berry kick
THIRD QUARTER
Decatur – Lowe 15 pass from Muehlstein; Allen kick
FOURTH QUARTER
Krum – Wojciak 5 run; kick failed
Decatur – Ben Blattner 72 pass from Lowe; Allen kick
Krum – Tanner Rankin 62 pass from Wojciak; run failed
Decatur – Muehlstein 3 run; Allen kick
Krum – Flores 50 run; run failed
Decatur – Lowe 8 pass from Muehlstein; Allen kick
KRUM … DECATUR
First Downs … 13 … 19
Rushes yards … 45-231 … 30-159
Passing yards … 87 … 301
Comp-Att-Int … 5-9-0 … 17-35-2
Fumbles lost … 0-0 … 1-1
Penalties … 9-69 … 12-129
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing – Krum, Flores 23-151; Decatur, 21-101
Passing – Krum, Wojciak 5-9-87; Decatur, Muehlstein, 16-34-229-2
Receiving – Krum, Rankin 1-62; Decatur, Lowe, 9-123
HAD HIT – Decatur’s Jared Durdon is brought down on a punt return. Messenger photo by Joe Duty
