Edmunds County Tribune -

Down through the years, successful PAT plays can be hard to come by in nine-man football. And the lack of conversion points can come back to haunt you in a close game between otherwise quite equally matched teams. That is just what happened to North Border last Friday, resulting in a 14-12 Ipswich-Edmunds Central win in Eureka.

Actually Ipswich-EC had gotten a real decent opportunity to take an initial lead after a scoreless first quarter where each team had tested the other teams' defense in a battle for field position. The Tigers indeed manufactured a promising second-quarter drive deep into enemy territory. But a fumble gave the hosts possession at their own four-yard line and after a Tiger penalty, North Border got on the board first with an 89-yard TD burst by Trevor Sumption with 7:47 left in the half. But the Tigers' D broke up that PAT play and 6-0 is also where things stood at halftime.

It didn't take very long in the second half for the Tigers to finally get on the scoreboard! They returned the kickoff to their own 33. A four-play scoring drive was capped by a Ben Kulesa keeper from one yard away and the big play of the drive was a 64-yard aerial hook-up from Kulesa to Daniel Braun just prior to the Kulesa carry. But I-EC wouldn't find the endzone this time for those all important PAT points, leaving the score temporarily deadlocked at 6-6. Then later in that quarter, I-EC launched a productive drive capped by Braun's recovery of a Tiger fumble, resulting in a 20-yard scoring play. This time the Tiger wouldn't be denied in their conversion try as Kulesa found Braun with an accurate pass, putting I-C up 14-6.

But the hosts weren't quite ready to concede things and were able generate a last-minute scoring drive of their own, completed with an eight-yard reception by Isaac Sumption from Zach Mueller. And the Tigers averted a possible OT, by again denying the hosts' PAT play and then got to do some serious celebrating.

The Tigers compiled 103 rushing yards, paced by Kulesa with 56. But the Tiger senior quarterback also did some serious damage through the air with a 15-33-2 259-yards evening. Braun totaled 114 reception yards with four catches. Kaden Hix was next with 48 receiving yards.

The hosts earned 165 yards on the ground and 48 passing.

Braun led the Ipswich-EC D with 14 tackles. Josh McQuarie and Carter Heinz were next with seven tackles apiece. It was a balanced effort as the team totaled 60.

The Lake Region Conference win snapped a five-game losing streak and completed the Tigers' regular-season schedule at 3-5 and 2-3 in league play. This is their bye week, but they are prepping for a quite possible 9A playoff bid. "Football will have practice this week," says IHS AD Dan Knust. "We are 99 percent sure we are in the playoffs, but won't know where we are going until Friday evening/Saturday morning."