A two point conversion pass with 58 seconds left was the difference in a 15-14 first round playoff loss for the Newton Cardinals at #2 Decorah last night. The Cardinals were leading 14-7 with 2:02 left in the game, when Decorah recovered a Cardinal fumble at the Newton 6 yard line. The fumble occurred one play after Newton’s Peyton Rozendahl intercepted a pass to halt a Decorah Vikings drive. Newton’s defense forced a 4th and goal from the one yard line. But Decorah quarterback Tanner Caddell pushed across the goal line on a quarterback sneak. The successful two point conversion followed. The Cardinals also fumbled just outside Decorah’s ten yard line on the opening drive of the game. Newton also had a touchdown pass from Caden Klein to Finn Martin called back due to an offensive offsides penalty. Newton Coach Andy Swedenhjelm says the Cardinals made too many mental mistakes.

“Our guys played their hearts out. We talked all week about if we want to win, we can’t beat ourselves. And we beat ourselves too many times.”

Newton scored first on a Caden Klein one yard touchdown run with 6:45 left in the second quarter. The run finished a nine play 41 yard drive, and was followed by a mishandled extra point attempt. Decorah would take a 7-6 lead about 1 minute later on an 87 yard touchdown run and extra point. On the ensuing kickoff, Reilly Trease got the lead back for the Cardinals on an 89 yard kickoff return. That was followed by a successful two point conversion, putting Newton up 14-7. That remained the score until the final minute of the game. The Cardinals end the year 6-4 after suffering a third straight first round play-off loss on the road.