By Jim Flick

The Blue Devils captured a 21-20 triple overtime victory, with Devon Colburn helping off the bench.

McDONALD — After surviving a lackluster first half and losing two starting running backs to injuries, the McDonald High football team escaped a real scare with a 21-20 overtime win over Southern.

Southern Local (5-3, 2-3 Inter Tri-County League Tier Two) scored the final points on a touchdown, but a tying extra-point attempt missed.

McDonald (8-0, 5-0) coach Dan Williams admitted the Blue Devils got off to a slow start.

“[They] beat us up pretty good in the first half,” Williams said.

The Indians scored the game’s only touchdown in the first half when Nathan Melhorn scored on a 6-yard run.

McDonald starting running back Alex Sampson was injured in the first half and didn’t play after halftime. Williams said the extent of his injury hasn’t been determined.

The Blue Devils’ other main running back, Nick Cupan, left the game after suffering an injury in the third quarter.

Devon Colburn came off the bench to become the Blue Devils’ rushing leader, gaining 88 yards on 18 carries.

Colburn scored McDonald’s final touchdown on a 17-yard run in the third overtime.

In the third quarter, the Blue Devils quickly tied the game on a three-play drive that ended when David John caught a 47-yard pass from quarterback Nick Accordino.

The Devls’ next drive stalled when Dylan Puckett intercepted a pass at about the 35-yard line and returned it to the Blue Devils’ 9-yard line.

Five plays later, Puckett smashed in from a yard out.

In the final quarter, the Devils faced fourth-and-inches at the Southern Local 11, Accordino attempted a quarterback sneak and his blockers pushed aside the Southern Local tacklers to put him in the end zone.

McDonald nearly ended the game in regulation. As time expired, Accordino dashed toward the end zone, gaining 20 yards, but was tackled on the 6-yard line.

In the first overtime, both teams attempted field goals and missed. Neither team scored in the second overtime.

McDonald had first crack at the end zone in the third overtime. After Accordino gained three yards, Colburn gained four.

On the next carry, Colburn burst through the left side of McDonald’s line and scored a touchdown a 13-yard run.

Will Robison’s extra point kick put the Blue Devils out in front 21-14.

Southern Local responded as Melhorn gained 11 yards on two carries. Trey Griffith caught a 9-yard pass from quarterback Michael McVay to pull the Indians to within a point of tying the score. The pass was only McVay’s second completion of the night.

The game ended with the missed extra-point kick.