At the end of the first quarter, Sterling City was in a 6-man dog fight in search of its first ever state championship. The second quarter had to be different. 

The May Tigers came out swinging, putting together touchdown drives of 36 and 15 seconds to keep the game within 20-14 at the end of the first quarter. At that moment, Sterling City’s defense knew it had to take over this game. 

“We’ve had a high-powered offense all year, but it’s really been our defense that’s won us some big games,” Sterling City quarterback Hudson Cox said. 

Once the second quarter started, it was like a switch flipped. The Eagles forced a turnover on downs to start the quarter and scored to extend the lead. May completed a 41-yard touchdown to Caden Halk to keep up, but then Sterling City’s defense took out a steamroller and flattened them. 

With five minutes left in the second half, May looked like it finally had a clear shot to the end zone. The Tigers completed a long pass down the field, but senior defensive lineman Chance Ferguson suddenly rushed down the field and pulled the ball out. Sterling City went on to score and take a commanding lead. 

“I think that was a big turning point in the game,” Sterling City coach Trey Sisco said. 

Defensive end Chance Ferguson led the defensive line to contain May to just three total rushing yards in the period after 80 in the first frame. Remember, this is a May team that averaged more than 60 points per game and cleared at least 40 in every game this season. But in the biggest moments, Sterling City’s defense stood tall. 

“When you can’t get a stop, the kids, they panic,” May coach Craig Steele said. “I think that’s what happened. We panicked a little bit defensively.” 

On the other end, May’s defense couldn’t stop Sterling City, especially workhorse running back Cross Knittel. The senior rushed for touchdowns on four straight drives in the second quarter. Sterling City scored a touchdown on every drive of the game. 

When the dust settled, Sterling City outscored May 40-8 in the second period alone to pace the Eagles in a 68-22 victory for their first ever state championship. 

“Nothing bad happened to us during that second quarter honestly,” Ferguson said. “We just kept that going and that launched us to the win.”