Dusworth's Fourth-Quarter Touchdown Lifts Wolf Pack Past Panthers
Riley Kade — JRSports One
Mason Dusworth's 2-yard touchdown run with 12:06 left in the fourth quarter put Boston ahead for good, and the Wolf Pack beat Cleveland 17-13. Boston had not led since the first quarter, when Riley Mirtwell hit Hugo Schun for an 8-yard touchdown.
The turning point came on Boston's next possession after Cleveland's second-quarter lead had been cut to nothing. Boston trailed 10-7 at halftime and tied the game at 10-10 when Garrett Jeackford kicked a 32-yard field goal with 6:30 left in the third quarter. Dusworth's score then gave Boston a 17-10 lead.
The game opened with Boston's touchdown and a Cleveland answer. Andrew Feal scored on a 3-yard run with 5:38 left in the second quarter to tie it at 7-7, and Elvis Muruez's 21-yard field goal with 1:09 left put Cleveland ahead 10-7. Dylan Thenden threw an interception to Nicolas Von with 4:21 left in the first quarter, and Cleveland's second-quarter lead ended on a Riley Mirtwell interception returned by Hunter Gillby with 0:46 left.
Dylan Thenden threw his third interception of the night at 2:20 of the fourth quarter, when Jesse Gonby picked him off with Boston leading 17-10. Muruez added a 22-yard field goal at 5:53 to make it 17-13, but Boston's defense held Cleveland from there. Boston also lost a fumble when Andrew Crackmore was stripped and Lane Gurker recovered at 1:55 of the fourth quarter.
Thenden finished 27 of 39 for 322 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. Feal had five catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. Mirtwell was 26 of 34 for 221 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Schun caught seven passes for 69 yards and a touchdown, and Andrew Crackmore ran 14 times for 40 yards for Boston.
Von had seven tackles, one sack and two interceptions for Boston. Tobias Kund added three sacks. Troy Whurdrick led Cleveland with 11 tackles. Cleveland outgained Boston 347 yards to 270, held the ball for 26 minutes 13 seconds to Boston's 33:51, and finished 3 of 11 on third down. Boston converted 6 of 13 third downs, committed seven penalties for 76 yards and turned the ball over twice. Cleveland turned it over three times.
Ryan Vonn, Boston defensive tackle, was out with a concussion and did not return. Tate Crairham, Boston outside linebacker, was out with a rib injury and did not return. Dalton Rasford, Cleveland cornerback, was out with a high ankle sprain and did not return. Lars Krir, Cleveland free safety, was out with a concussion, and Tate Cherdton, Cleveland cornerback, was out with a hamstring strain. Parker Renn, Cleveland left end, was listed as questionable with a hand injury and did not return.
Boston improved to 2-6 with the win. Cleveland, now 8-1, has lost for the first time in the games shown in its record.
