Late scores difference in ‘Instant classic’ for Cardinal football team

ELDON — Down 10 points with little more than 2 minutes remaining in Friday’s football game against the Mustangs, the Comets streaked into the end zone twice for a 42-38 victory.

“It was an instant classic,” Cardinal head coach Landon Miller said. “I was proud of the coaching staff because we put the kids in these kind of situations so they know what to do.”

The Mustangs best defense was the offense using up the clock because Cardinal quarterback Maddux Jones was lethal throwing the ball. Jones completed 20-of-25 passes for 437 yards and five touchdowns with one interception.

Ian Liles 68-yard touchdown reception gave Cardinal an 8-0 lead. Landon Becker’s 45-yard touchdown reception tied the game at 14 in the third quarter. Griffin Greiner caught a 48-yard scoring pass to tie it at 22, then his 12-yard run boosted the Comets into the lead at 28-22.

Becker finished with nine catches for 169 yards. Greiner had four receptions for 112 yards and Liles three for 100.

The Mustangs scored twice, the second one made the score 38-28 with under 3 minutes remaining in the game.

A touchdown reception by Isaac Lett pulled Cardinal within 38-34 Comet. With 40 seconds left, an onside kick was the call and either Dylan Telfer or Blaine Bryant recovered it.

Cardinal’s fourth pass play after the recovery was Greiner’s touchdown reception with one second remaining, followed by a 2-point conversion and an incredible comeback was complete after a squib kick ran off the final second.

“Isn’t that how you draw it up,” Miller said. “These kids have played a lot of varsity sports from the time they were freshmen so they’re used to these kind of moments and it makes a little bit easier to coach when they don’t get phased. They are a special bunch of kids.”