On Friday night, Melissa faced off against a struggling Anna team, both vying for a crucial district win. The Cardinals came out strong, opening the scoring with a 71-yard touchdown pass, quickly taking a 7-0 lead. Anna responded with a solid drive, but only managed a field goal, narrowing the gap to 7-3.
Despite the slow start, Melissa showcased their offensive firepower with another long touchdown pass, this time for 45 yards, extending their lead to 14-3. However, Anna rallied, scoring their first touchdown of the night to bring the score to 14-9 by the end of the first quarter.The second quarter saw a defensive battle, with only Anna adding a field goal, making it 14-12 in favor of Melissa. The Cardinals’ defense proved formidable, stifling the Coyotes and forcing short drives.
The second half began with a shift in momentum as Anna stopped Melissa’s offense and scored a touchdown, taking an 18-14 lead. With the game on the line, Melissa entered the fourth quarter determined to reclaim the lead. They struck early, scoring a touchdown and solidifying their defense to seal the victory at 21-18.
Looking ahead, Melissa will face legendary coach Todd Dodge and his Lovejoy Leopards, who are fresh off a bye week and eager to re-enter district play. Meanwhile, Anna will take on Independence, who are coming off a convincing 35-14 win against Liberty. Both teams have plenty to prove in the upcoming matchups!
