The two-time defending 1A Football Sectional 47 champion North Decatur Chargers fell short of a third straight title, losing in the final minute at Tri, 20-13.
The host Titans remain undefeated at home and improve to 10-2 on the season. The victory earned the boys from Straughn their fourth sectional crown and first since 2007. ND ends the 2021 campaign at 6-5.
There was no scoring until late in the second quarter when Tri’s Parker Burk found the end zone from 15 yards out. The point after failed, but the Titans led 6-0 at intermission.
Coach Steve Stirn’s Chargers came out after halftime and answered with a long, sustained drive that ate up most of the third quarter. It was capped by a Reid Messer 5-yard run and a PAT to put ND up 7-6.
Tri responded early in the fourth quarter when quarterback Mason Wilson played pitch and catch with Burk on a 35-yard scoring play. A two-pont conversion effort was a no go, but the Titans were back on top, 12-7.
North Decatur battled back again and found scoring success on a pass play of their own when quarterback Carson Parmer fired a dart over the middle to Evan Howell. The Chargers also went for two and came up short but regained a 13-12 edge with just under five minutes to go.
Unfortuantely for the Charger faithful, there was enough time left on the clock. Tri kept feeding Burk on a series of running plays and the junior running back eventually scored his third TD on a six-yard carry with less than a minute to play. The two-point try was good for the final points of the night. Tri raised the trophy on its home turf, celebrating a 20-13 sectional championship.
Tri (10-2) will play for a 1A regional at North Central Farmersburg on Friday. The Thunderbirds (6-5) upset No. 6 Springs Valley 30-14 to capture their second sectional title. The other came in 2018.
We thank our own Terrance Arney for this edited report.