Cyclones collapse after quick start against St. Mary's

Eli Macke exploded downfield on the opening play of the game for a 75-yard touchdown, but it wasn't enough spark to keep the Cyclones in the hunt for a win against St. Mary's.

The Redbirds downed OC, 32-16, in an Oct. 18 contest played in Orchard.

Macke's game-starting run resulted in the only points for either team in the first quarter.

Aidan Hedstrom scooted in from the 3-yard line in the second quarter, narrowing OC's lead. The PAT failed.

Hedstrom connected with Connor Semin for a 4-yard pass, moving the Cardinals into the lead, 12-8, at the break.

Tate Thompson ran the ball in from 10 yards out to bump St. Mary's lead to 18-8 and Grant Winkelbauer found a lane and ran it in from the 7-yard line.

The Cyclones made their way down field, giving Macke a second score when he walked across the line for six. He added a successful PAT to lessen the margin to 24-16 at the end of the third quarter.

The Cyclones couldn't make their way into the endzone during the fourth quarter and SMH sealed the win when Hedstrom tossed a 2-yard pass to Semin and threw to Thompson for the PAT.

Houston Marino led the passing attack for the Cyclones, completing 3 of 4 passes for 30 yards.

Macke carried the ball 22 times for 84 yards.

Sophomore Colton Thiele finished the game with 18 tackles, including 6 solo takedowns.

OC travels to Chambers, Oct. 24, for the final game of the regular season. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Statistics vs. St. Mary's:

Passing: Macke: 0/1; Tyson Rix: 0/2; Marino: 3/4 for 30 yds

Rushing: Macke: 22/84 yds; Rix: 1/0 yds; Trevor Thomson: 1/1 yds; Marino: 6/36 yds

Receiving: Macke: 1/3 yds; Rix: 1/13 yds; Gage Switzer: 1/14 yds

Fumbles/lost: Macke: 1/1; Thomson: 1/1; Marino: 1/1

Tackles: Macke: 10; Rix: 5; Switzer: 10; Rafe Grebin: 2; Anthony Ferris: 1; James Kester: 2; Tyler Bellar: 11; Thomson: 6; Thiele: 18; Kellen Mlnarik: 2; Anthony Umphress: 7; Joe Ahlers: 4; Wyatt Chipps: 1; Marino: 9; Mueller: 5

Sacks: Thiele: 1; Umphress: 1

Fumble recovery: Macke: 1; Thiele: 1

Kickoff: Gabriel Gamez: 2/72 yds

Kickoff returns: Macke: 2/102 yds; Grebin: 1/18 yds