Photo by Greg Orear MCC running back Justin Benda breaks through a tackle attempt by a Springfield defender en route to the end zone during the Section 3A Championship on Friday. The Tigers defeated the Rebels 15-14.

MARSHALL – In a clash of styles between the power-running Murray County Central Rebels and the high-flying Springfield Tigers, the No. 2-seeded Tigers used a fourth quarter go-ahead touchdown pass to edge MCC 15-14 and move on to the state tournament.

With the loss, the Rebels close out their season with a final record of 8-3.

Reflecting on the game, MCC assistant coach Luke Freeman pointed to the inability to capitalize on sustained as the difference in Friday’s contest.

“We played hard (and) we had our opportunities, but (we) didn’t take advantage of the chances that we had,” said Freeman. “(Overall) good effort and good football team that we played, but we just didn’t take advantage of the chances that we had and they did so that was the difference of the game.”

The stark contrast of offensive schemes between the Rebels and the pass-happy Tigers was apparent in the early goings of the contest with both teams finding moderate success moving the ball in the opening half.

For the Tigers, Big-armed quarterback Decker Scheffler wasted little time in slinging it deep to wide receiver Jordan Kieper but just missed on the opening drive with the ball falling incomplete. Going back to the well on the following drive, the Tigers got a second chance at a big passing play and connected with a 40-yard touchdown pass to take an early 8-0 lead

MCC stuck to their own game plan of wearing down the Tigers defense with a steady dose of power running with quarterback Mason Woldt grinding out hard-fought yards up the middle and running back Justin Benda bouncing to the outside. With that game plan, the Rebels answered right back on the opening drive of the second quarter that began at their 33-yard line and ended with Benda finding the end-zone from eight yards out.

Woldt was quick to praise the work of the guys up front on the offensive line who were providing gaping holes to work with throughout the contest.

“They worked hard,” said Woldt. “They played their hearts out, sometimes you just can’t do anything more than that.”

The Rebels continued to find success on the ground but started to mix in slant patterns to Benda that brought them down to the red-zone following the scoring drive. Bending but not breaking, Tiger defense stood tall to hold the Rebels to the lone touchdown at halftime to maintain their 8-6 lead.

Out of the half, the Rebels began their opening drive from midfield and used the favorable field position to their advantage on a long, physical drive that chewed up six minutes off the clock and stalled at the one-yard line staring down a critical fourth and goal situation. Using all of his 6-foot-3 frame, quarterback Woldt called his own number and broke through a tackle behind the line of scrimmage to score the go-ahead touchdown.

Carrying the six-point lead into the fourth quarter, the Rebels appeared to be in control of the game until early in the fourth quarter when the Springfield Tigers struck for a second and final time to go ahead 15-14. On the final Rebel drive in search of an answering score, the offense fought tooth and nail to keep the possession alive but turned the ball over on downs to mark the end of the game.

Looking back on the successful season for the Rebels, Woldt viewed the bond that this team had as something special.

“It was fun, our team was different than any other team that I’ve ever been part of,” said Woldt. “We’re all so tight and it was fun having a lot of success.”