Blackburn's Late-Game Heroics Stun Crown
Minneapolis, Minn., Oct. 26, 2007 – In the closest game thus far of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference’s Dome Day 2007, Blackburn College one-upped Crown College in the final minute to claim a 42-35 win.

After Crown marched downfield on a seven-play, 55-yard drive in just under two minutes, quarterback Matthew Bremer hit Drew Milner for a seven-yard touchdown pass with 42 seconds remaining in the game. Taylor Clayton’s pass from running back Steve Boger gave the Storm a successful two-point conversion and the go-ahead points needed to win the game. Blackburn didn’t give up though, as Gary Dwiggins hit Brandon Freehill on a 48-yard halfback pass with nine seconds left, awarding the win to the Battlin’ Beavers and stunning Crown along the way.

The Storm’s Lamone Johnson kicked of the game’s scoring with a two-yard run seven minutes into the contest. Blackburn answered with a drive that lasted over six minutes, as Dwiggins, a running back, found Mark Hillen in the end zone from 22 yards out.

Each team’s scoring tradeoffs became a lengthy trend throughout the game as Crown and Blackburn traded scores through the third quarter, leaving the game’s result to an exciting fourth period.

The Beavers’ Tony Lagrone, who had set career rushing marks at Blackburn earlier this season, scored his third touchdown of the day midway through the fourth, capping off an 11-play, 64-yard drive that took 6:21 with a four-yard run.

Nail-biting football continued, up through the end, as Crown’s comeback followed by Blackburn’s heroics kept everyone on their toes until the game’s end, with the Beavers avenging an earlier loss to Crown this season and owning a 42-35 final advantage.

Blackburn’s offense was almost all-run oriented, as the Beavers rushed 71 times as a team for 347 yards. Lagrone had 35 attempts for 192 yards and his three scores, while Donovan Lewis had 24 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown. Blackburn only completed five of their nine passes, but Dwiggins’ only throws were both good for scores on the halfback-pass plays. Quarterback Anthony Bertuccio was 3-of-7 for 19 yards and an interception.

Crown (5-3, 4-3 UMAC) posted 381 total yards, throttled by their 248 on the ground. Quarterback Bremer rushed seven times for 117 yards and two touchdowns, while Johnson had 13 carries for 87 yards and a score. On the passing end, Bremer was 13 for 29 for 133 yards and another score. Drew Milner was the quarterback’s featured target, as Milner hauled in seven catches for 95 yards and a TD.

Crown’s Brian Swanson was all over the field on defense, racking up 15 tackles, including two for a loss. Jay McCoy also added ten 10 tackles for the Storm.

Tim Roberts paced Blackburn (3-6, 3-4 UMAC) with 4.5 tackles in the win.