Howland holds on to defeat Poland 20-18

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

poland

With 90 seconds left in one of those weird games where both teams made more than enough plays to win — and lose — Poland coach Mark Brungard called timeout to make the type of decision that can decide a season.

His team was facing a fourth-and-3 at the Howland 24. Brungard had a choice between putting the ball in the hands of junior quarterback Colin Reardon, who found his groove in the fourth quarter, or sophomore kicker Connor McFadden who had the leg and the pedigree to make a game-winning 41-yard field goal, but lacked the experience.

He chose the latter.

“There were 101 options being thrown at me,” Brungard said afterward. “I felt like Connor McFadden certainly has the leg and we believe in him to do that.”

McFadden, the son of former YSU and NFL kicker Paul McFadden, got pressure up the middle on his attempt and the kick went wide left, giving the Tigers a 20-18 victory Friday and clearing a path to their fourth straight league title and first outright crown since winning the Metro Athletic Conference in 2007.

Read the story in Saturday’s Vindicator.