By Anthony Gadson
Pilot Sports

NEW CARLISLE - Two rush-oriented teams met last night at Amzie Miller Field, but the New Prairie Cougars proved to have just a little bit more than the Culver Military Academy Eagles, winning the Class 3A Sectional 19 championship, 26-20.

"We just needed a stop in the first half," CMA coach Andy Dorrel said. "There wasn't really anything that happened, we just couldn't stop them in the first half."

In that first half, CMA actually jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead following a 4-yard touchdown run by senior Neven Fingerhut at the 5:58 mark in the first. The touchdown came at the end of a 13-play, 65-yard drive which ate up more than half of the quarter.

With the ball back, the fifth-ranked Cougars answered with an 11-play, 73-yard drive that came to an end with senior Jeff Vervynckt punching the ball into the end zone from a yard out. With the extra point, the game was tied at 7-7 with only 22 seconds left in the opening quarter.

New Prairie only had two more possessions in the half, but with Cougars scoring on both, they made the most of them. The first score came on an 18-yard reception by Vervynckt from senior quarterback Zach Blackwood, while the second came from senior Nicholas Cummings, who ran the ball in from four yards out with only 31 seconds remaining in the half.

The score gave New Prairie a 20-7 halftime lead, but CMA wasn't giving up hope.

"We had scored two touchdowns against the defending state champions last week to come back," Dorrel said, referring to CMA's come-from-behind win over NorthWood a week earlier.

Following a three-and-out by the Cougars, CMA had the ball for the first time in the second half, and needed only two carries by Fingerhut to get into the end zone. The second of the two carries was a 50-yarder that helped bring CMA to within 20-13 with 8:52 left in the third quarter.

Just as it seemed to be all night though, New Prairie had an answer.

On the Cougars' ensuing possession, Vervynckt answered Fingerhut's long touchdown run with one of his own, his going for 52 yards and giving the Cougars a 26-13 lead with 6:50 left in the third quarter.

CMA would have a couple more long drives that would stall out, but they did get into the end zone with only four seconds remaining in the game. The last score of the game came on a 4-yard run by Fingerhut, which was the last in his CMA career. For his last game as an Eagle, Fingerhut rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns.

"What makes Neven so good is that he has unselfish men in front of him," Dorrel said. "Neven is a great running back, Andy Parchman is fantastic and Dee Warr is just as good. I'm really pleased that all of our backs were able to show what they could do tonight."

And New Prairie coach Bart Curtis knew exactly what was in store for his team - a strong running attack from CMA.

"I said they come downhill at you and they can bounce it off of you and make the big play," Curtis said about his warning to his team. "And they have four very good backs and a good offensive line. Our defense did a stellar job."

Fingerhut's last score brought CMA to within 26-20, but with only four seconds remaining. From there, a failed onside kick gave New Prairie possession and the game.

"I give them a lot of credit for sticking to their game plan," Dorrel said of the Cougars, who rushed for 245 yards on the ground, compared to CMA's 264.

Even though his team lost, Dorrel was still proud of what his team accomplished this season.

"I'm glad a lot of people have been able to see the character these Culver Military men have," he said.

And following the battle, Curtis was also impressed with the Eagles.

"CMA has great character, they're disciplined and they work hard," the winning coach said.

New Prairie will now host the third-ranked Norwell Knights next week.