Click photo to enlarge
Cardinal TD: Quarterback Josh Finafrock (10) of the Chambersburg Cardinals plunges over the the goal line from 3 yards out for a touchdown in the second quarter of a game against the South Central Yard Dawgs on Saturday night at Trojan Stadium. Chambersburg won the game in overtime, 24-21.
The Chambersburg Cardinals' game was nearly over.

Or so everyone thought.

With less than three minutes to go, Chambersburg held a 21-14 yard lead over the South Central Yard Dawgs, and Cardinals quarterback Joshua Finafrock was attempting to lead his team down the field for some insurance points.

Instead, South Central blitzed, and while trying to get rid of the ball, Finafrock threw it in the direction of the defense. The Yard Dawgs picked it off for a 25-yard touchdown interception to tie the game and force overtime.

The Cardinals eventually pulled out a 24-21 North American Football League victory Saturday night at Trojan Stadium thanks to the foot of Tim Miller, who kicked a 35-yard field goal in overtime, but the margin of victory was too narrow for coach Chambersburg Jake Minnich.

"It was a dogfight tonight," he said. "We played well and eventually came back, but our team made some errors that we need to improve on."

The Cardinals got off to an early 7-0 lead on the game's opening drive, when Finafrock connected with Travis Smith for a 47-yard touchdown pass.

South Central answered less than two minutes later, with a 29-yard touchdown pass of its own, when quarterback John Bailes threw to Tyrell Shaffer to tie the game.

Chambersburg got on the scoreboard again shortly before halftime, when Finafrock carried the ball into the end zone from 3 yards out, giving the Cardinals a 14-7 lead.

Finafrock increased the led in the third

Advertisement
by throwing a 29-yard pass to Anthony Thomas, who sprinted into the end zone, carrying a defender around his waist.

The Cardinals held a comfortable lead until midway through the fourth quarter, when South Central's Bailes used a quarterback sneak to carry the ball in the end zone from 3 yards out, reducing the Cardinals' lead to one score.

The interception occurred in Chambersburg's next possession, forcing overtime.

With the win, Chambersburg's record is now 4-3 on the season (3-3 NAFL). South Central is 3-4 (2-3 NAFL).

Minnich said, "I have to give kudos to our defense. We also ran the ball really well tonght.

"However, we may have lost our best running back."

Andre McDonald, who was injured in the third quarter on a late hit in which a Yard Dawg was ejected, may have suffered a broken ankle on the play.

At the time, McDonald had racked up 55 yards on 13 carries.

"We knew it would be a rough game," Minnich said. "We came out a little banged up, but overall, we played well."

Note: Game statistics will be published in Monday's paper.