By Staff
CASSOPOLIS – A dream season for the Cassopolis football team ended in the district championship game on Friday night.
Visiting Decatur spoiled the Rangers party with an 18-13 come-from-behind victory in the Division 6, Region 2, District 2 championship game.
The district championship was the first since 2002 for the No. 6 ranked Raiders – a perennial playoff competitor.
The No. 1 ranked Rangers were making their first playoff appearance since 2003.
Cassopolis, which finished with a 10-1 overall record, grabbed a 13-6 halftime lead on the Raiders.
Paul Curtis opened the scoring with an 11-yard run. Alex Olafsson's extra point kick gave the Rangers a 7-0 lead.
The Raiders responded with their own first quarter touchdown. Blake Botti hauled in a 38-yard touchdown pass from Mike Wright. Decatur, however, trailed 7-6 as the two-point conversion pass failed.
The Rangers scored the only touchdown of the second quarter and led 13-6 at the break.
A.J. Ballard scored from 2-yards out. The extra point kick failed, leaving Cassopolis with a seven-point lead.
Neither team found the end zone in the third quarter as the defenses took over.
The Raiders then scored a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to pull out the victory.
Izzy Brill scored on a 2-yard run, while Tim Shroyer scored on a 40-yard pass from Wright.
The Raiders missed on both two-point conversion runs.
The Rangers had one last chance to stop the Raiders and get the ball back with just over two and a half minutes to play. An offsides on a fourth-and-2 play at the Raiders' 43-yard line allowed Decatur to keep the ball and run out the clock.
The Raiders finished with 263 yards in total offense, including 111 yard through the air. Decatur held the Rangers, who averaged over 400 yards rushing during the regular season, to just 260. Cassopolis finished with 276 yards in total offense.
Curtis led the Rangers with 89 yards rushing. DaShaun Curtis, who rushed for over 1,600 yards coming into the contest, was held to 65 yards on 14 carries.
Decatur 6 0 0 12 – 18
Cassopolis 7 6 0 0 – 13
C – Paul Curtis 11 run (Alex Olafsson kick)
D – Blake Botti 38 pass from Mike Wright (pass failed)
C – A.J. Ballard 2 run (kick failed)
D – Izzy Brill 2 run (run failed)
D – Tim Shroyer 40 pass from Wright (run failed)