A hail Mary pass that went long was all Melcher-Dallas needed to preserve a win over arch-rival Twin Cedars and win back the Marion County Eight-Man Trophy in a 32-30 win over the Sabers. The back and forth game started slowly with the Saints leading 12-6 at halftime, but the scoring picked up in the 2nd half with each team getting big plays. Ryan Heaton accounted for three touchdowns, one on the ground and two through the air for a total offense of 156 yards. The Sabers had grabbed the lead with just over ten minutes remaining, when the Saints drove down the field and scored on a C.J. Smith 20 yards reception. But the Saints had to hold off a Sabers last ditch drive as the hail Mary pass was long as time expired. Coach Jason Mason told KNIA Sports it was a total team effort to get the win.

Mason: “It was the whole team even the sidelines getting the fan innvoled. We overcame adversity, and thta’s what we’ve been preaching all year, and it was a good thing to see them comeback and close them out and win the game.”

Brody Johnson was 8/23 through the air for 187 yards and two touchdowns. The Saints out-gained Twin Cedars 389-to-292. Sabers Coach Mark Ford told KNIA/KRLS Sports he wanted his players to fight to the end, and he says they did that.

Ford: “I’m so proud of them. It’s not the sixze of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog, and the score may not be in our favor, but in my minds they are winners.”

Dallas Smith was the leading rusher with 52 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns. He was also eight-of-27 through the air for 151 yards and a touchdown. Twin Cedars drops to 0-5 on the season and will play Moravia next week. Melcher-Dallas is 2-3 on the season and will travel to Lamoni next week.