Himwell's Field Goal in Overtime Lifts Charlotte Past Minneapolis
Riley Kade — JRSports One
Lane Himwell's 27-yard field goal at 4:44 of overtime gave Charlotte a 30-27 win over Minneapolis. The kick ended a game that was tied at 27 after Jared Pait threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Yu-chen Yungzaki at 7:58 of the fourth quarter.
The game turned at 9:52 of the first quarter, when Joel Cromson ran 19 yards for a touchdown that gave Charlotte a 7-0 lead. Charlotte never trailed. Ryan Keastworth tied it on a 3-yard run at 4:41, but Owen Voorkrick's 2-yard touchdown run at 0:00 put Charlotte back ahead, 14-7.
Charlotte's second quarter put the game away. Cromson's 26-yard touchdown run at 13:16 made it 21-7, and Himwell's 35-yard field goal at 4:26 pushed the lead to 24-7, the largest of the game at 17 points. Jesse Feam had intercepted Emilio Jintoza earlier in the quarter at 13:57 and returned it five yards. Sandy Zonteda's 26-yard field goal at 0:33 left Charlotte ahead 24-10 at halftime.
Minneapolis cut the margin to 24-17 at 11:41 of the third quarter on Jintoza's 3-yard touchdown pass to Keastworth, then drew within 24-20 on Zonteda's 32-yard field goal at 7:45. Nate Sock intercepted Jintoza at 3:20 and returned it four yards. Himwell's 53-yard field goal at 13:33 of the fourth quarter put Charlotte ahead 27-20 before Pait found Yungzaki for the tie.
Jake Braton completed 22 of 30 passes for 215 yards for Charlotte without a touchdown or an interception. Cromson carried 12 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns and caught four passes for 54 yards. Andres Nol led the Charlotte defense with three sacks.
Jintoza completed 19 of 33 passes for 208 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions for Minneapolis. Yungzaki ran 20 times for 145 yards, and Keastworth caught nine passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. Eli Fost also recorded three sacks for Minneapolis. Charlotte finished with 339 total yards and no turnovers, while Minneapolis had 352 yards and two giveaways.
Minneapolis lost Wade Crull, its free safety, to a hamstring strain and he was ruled out for six weeks. Jesse Lun, the Minneapolis fullback, also suffered a hamstring strain and did not return. Charlotte's Scott Nayt (MCL sprain) and Octavio Ranena (fractured hand) were each ruled out for one week and did not return.
Charlotte improved to 5-4 with the win, while Minneapolis fell to 5-2.
