The Jackson Polar Bears had their best third quarter of the season. In a span of 3:02, the Lake Blue Streaks saw a 20-10 halftime lead dissipate into a 25-20 Polar Bears advantage after three quarters.

Just when it seemed that the Blue Streaks were about finish the game with fewer points for the sixth consecutive time this season and with their pride on the line, the visitors turned to senior running back Tyler Crowl. Using one monumental defensive stand the Streaks triumphed 28-25 in front of a crowd of nearly 8,000 at Robert Fife Stadium. Lake obtained their first Federal League win of the season and more importantly, advanced their record to 3-5 on the season.

Most importantly, they were able to keep alive their hopes for a post-season appearance. But they will need to gain victories the next two weeks over Austintown-Fitch and Dresden Tri-Valley along with help from other teams if they are to participate in the Division II playoffs again.

But for right now, getting a victory is what counts the most according to  Lake head football coach Jeff Durbin.

"This is a great, great win, Man!" Durbin roared. "It's huge! We had a lot of players make plays for us and come through tonight."

It was a hard-hitting contest that lived up to its billing and left both teams nursing injuries when the warfare on the gridiron concluded.

But no one stepped up bigger than senior running back Tyler Crowl. The 5-foot, 9-inches senior scored two touchdowns and finished the game with 117 yards rushing.

The last several games, Crowl had gone over 100 yards but didn't have a victory to show for it. That all changed in the confines of Robert Fife Stadium.

"I'm proud of the team for the way that they fought tonight and that we fought to the very end," he said.
"Don't forget to speak about the offensive line," interjected Lake offensive coordinator Dan DeGeorge.

Crowl made sure to lend his linemen chunks of the pie.

"The line blocked well for me and allowed me to see the holes up ahead," he said.

Each team scored on their opening series. Lake rode the legs of Crowl on a 14-play drive that devoured nearly seven minutes off the clock and ended with a four-yard touchdown run. Logan Martin's extra-point kick spotted the Blue Streaks a 7-0 lead.

The Polar Bears then returned fire, sending a message of their own. Mixing up the running game along with precision passion, Jackson countered with the legs of Jimmy Hanlon and the passing of quarterback Max Paulus on a drive that embarked at their own 24-yard line and concluded with Paulus running in from four yards out and Zach Pugh's extra-point kick tied the game at 7-7 all.

Lake responded with another series to reclaim the lead. Using clean and crisp passing from quarterback Ryan Christiansen and catches from receiver Derek Sitzlar, the visitors loosened up the Jackson defense as Andrew Jones ran up the middle uncontested for a seven-yard touchdown run and the lead once again at 14-7.

Jackson had their deepest drive later aided by a punt that hit a Lake defender in the back, which they recovered. But the Blue Streaks defense forced Jackson to settle for a Pugh field goal. That proved to be pivotal toward the end of the quarter when Kyler King threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Martin before halftime. Even though Martin missed the extra-point, their 11-play drive sparked Lake to a 20-10 lead at halftime.

"Our coaches told us at halftime to keep fighting and not to get complacent," Crowl said. "We had to go out and keep fighting."

That happened on the reverse end of the spectrum in the third quarter. Jackson used three touchdowns in a span of 3:02 to assume their first lead of the contest. After a touchdown run by Jimmy Hanlon, the Polar Bears were rewarded even more when a Lake snap sailed out of the end zone for a safety and then four plays after the free kick, Ramon Brown snagged a 24-yard touchdown pass from Paulus and the Polar Bears had a 25-20 advantage much to the shock of Lake fans.

Somehow, the Blue Streaks regrouped and just in time. The biggest play came for them on third down and needing 8-yards for a first down, Christiansen showed a play-action look, cocked back his hand and completed a 36 yard pass to Sitzlar in front of a Jackson double-team for a major first down.

The play energized the Lake offense and it concluded when Crowl scored his second touchdown run of the game, blowing past two defenders for an 18-yard touchdown run. Ryan Roth caught a two-point pass in the end zone and Lake repossessed the lead at 28-25 with 3:42 left to go.

"We played well enough to take the lead but didn't play well enough to win," said Jackson head coach Thom McDaniels.

"Jackson fought back tonight. But we wanted to come out and get a win tonight and we did that," Durbin said.

Jackson had their best third quarter of the season. But in the end, Lake had the best feeling of the evening in savoring a well-earned and deserved victory.