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Playoffs start Saturday at Fergus
The Vermilon Ironhawks are heading for the postseason on a high note and with some momentum.
Marcuson Taylor’s 29yard completion to Dwayne Jacobs went for a touchdown in overtime, and gave the community college football team a 14-8 victory over Central Lakes on Oct. 12 at Brainerd.
It was the Ironhawks’ second win of the fall and came in the regular season finale.
Vermilion (2-4) wound up with the number-five seed in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference and will meet number-four M State-Fergus Falls in a road clash set for Saturday at 2 p.m.
Just a week earlier, Vermilion was dominated in a 66-7 loss at Minnesota West, but the Ironhawks reversed course against the Raiders.
While it took time for Vermilion’s offense to get on track, as potential scoring drives were snuffed out by downs, penalties or turnovers, the defense held firm.
Vermilion allowed only 77 yards of total offense all afternoon, and the hosts’ only touchdown came on a 55-yard interception return by Mikel Clack in the second quarter.
It gave the Raiders an 8-0 edge, and it looked as if it might hold up despite Vermilion enjoying a massive edge in total yards.
Vermilion outgained Central Lakes 288-77 for the game, but didn’t get on the board until midway through the fourth quarter, when a 65-yard march ended on a 14-yard scoring strike from Taylor to Tawann Tutwiler.
Kendall Aguirre’s twopoint conversion run tied the game.
In overtime, Vermilon was set back initially but Taylor came through with the big throw that won the game.
The Ironhawks’ defense took over from there, with Jakai Jones, Aguirre, Logan Bubar and Shaquay Jackson all recording five stops.
Aguirre had two sacks, four tackles for losses and a fumble recovery, while Jackson had 3.5 tackles for losses.
Johnny Bolton had four talckes, while Dawann Atchison, Connor Reece and Carlos Brown all wound up with three.
Tutwiler ran for 91 yards, and Taylor went four-for-nine through the air for 47 yards.
Jacobs finished with five receptions for 48 yards and Dakoda Howard added two catches.
This weekend, Vermilion will be out to avenge a 62-16 loss to Fergus Falls in a contest played last month.
The winner moves on to the MCAC semifinals on Oct. 27, and a date with top-seed North Dakota State College of Science.
