Turnovers give Irish win over MacArthur

Although leading at halftime, early second-half errors from MacArthur gave Bishop McGuinness the opportunities the Irish needed to take the lead and foil the Highlanders, 38-23, in a critical district encounter at Cameron Stadium Friday.

“They’re a good team that presents a lot of challenges. I think the bottom line is we had a couple special teams mishaps at the beginning of the second half and then a turnover on offense,” said MacArthur head coach Brett Manning. “Just made a few mistakes that cost us the game.”

Entering the second half with a 13-10 lead, an onside kick from McGuinness caught MacArthur special teams off guard, leading to the Irish making the recovery. A quick 39-yard pass from McGuiness quarterback Damon Cochran to running back JR Fletcher landing the fighting Irish five yards away from the end zone. They would score on the next play on a run from Fletcher and in 20 seconds, had taken a 17-13 lead.

MacArthur wasted little time getting back in front. After being forced into a third down situation on its own 41-yard line, Macquarterback Aivan Locklin found receiver Josh Rushing for a gain of 17 and a first down. Two plays later on second down, Locklin looked downfield and connected with a wide-open Rushing, who carried it in for a 38-yard touchdown to reclaim the lead at 20-17.

However, MacArthur’s defense couldn’t hold McGuinness for long, eventually allowing another touchdown around the eight-minute mark. In a flash MacArthur had lost the lead the Highlanders held since early in the second quarter.

With just over three minutes to go in the third quarter, McGuinness punted the ball with it landing at the Highlander’s 8-yard line. On their first play upon retaining possession, MacArthur fumbled the ball, giving possession to the Irish who needed just two plays to reach the end zone for a 31-20 lead.

MacArthur countered for its third field goal of the game early in the fourth quarter to try and close the gap to 31-23.

Unfortunately for the Highlanders, a turnover gave the Irish the ball again and quickly scored to arrange the 38-23 final and take second place in District 5A-1.

MacArthur will, nowever, continue into the postseason as Friday’s loss places them as the third seed where they will travel to face Guthrie. Although they won’t have the luxury of being second and having home field in the first round, Manning is content optimistic about the position his team is in.

“That second-place spot is a tough bracket. The third-place spot is a better playoff chance for us,” said Manning. “Going to Guthrie isn’t going to be easy, but if we get that win at Guthrie, we’re looking at a really favorable position in the playoffs looking forward.”

Locklin made an impact on the field for MacArthur by running the ball for 66 yards and converting on 18 of his 36 passing attempts. Rushing was his favorite target and although the Irish had a pair of defenders on him all game, Locklin found him for more than 120 yards through the air.

To open the scoring, McGuinness with three minutes remaining in the first quarter, forced its way into the end zone with a ground-oriented offense and eventuall, Fletcher earned the Irish the lead on a 2-yard TD run.

It took MacArthur just over two minutes to match the Irish score. Marquise Harris got the drive going with a couple of runs for a first down, then Locklin found Rushing for a 27-yard gainer put the Highlanders at the McGuinness 2-yard-line. Harris ran the ball in from there and after the PAT it was 7-all.

Both sides hit a pair of field goals in the second quarter, but to close the half, MacArthur’s Miguel Martinez made his second field goal with about two minutes remaining, arranging Mac’s 13-10 halftime lead.