Turnovers too much for Fort Cherry to overcome
McDONALD – Union broke a fourth-quarter tie by scoring on a safety and added a touchdown pass in the closing minutes to defeat Fort Cherry 30-21 in a Class A first-round football playoff game Friday night at Jim Garry Stadium.
The game was close throughout as Fort Cherry (7-3) led 21-20 at halftime. The Rangers, however, were held scoreless in the second half. Fort Cherry threw three interceptions, lost a fumble and gave up the safety.
Ryhan Culberson rushed for 168 yards on 23 carries and scored on a 17-yard scamper in the first quarter to tie the score at 7-7. Culberson also returned a fumble 16 yards for a touchdown that tied the score again, at 14-14, late in the first quarter.
Zachary Vincenti rushed for 113 yards for the Rangers on only 10 carries. He had a 35-yard TD run in the second quarter that put the Rangers ahead 21-20 heading into halftime.
On a third-and-long play early in the fourth quarter, FC had a fumbled snap that led the safety that gave Union (8-3) a 22-21 lead.
Union, which will play top-seeded California in the quarterfinals, had 150 yards net rushing.