Twisters win close one over Cardinals

Austin Twombley proved he was a primetime player who thrives under pressure Sunday at Youth Sports Inc.

The quarterback/cornerback rushed for a fourth-quarter touchdown and came up with a game-sealing interception as he led the Twisters to a 12-6 victory over the Cardinals in a fourth- and fifth-grade game.

“We were able to really step up at crunch time and seal the deal,” Twisters coach Roger Russ said.

Most of that had to do with Twombley, who struck early and often for the Twisters.

After defensive tackle A’shaunda Trotter recorded three tackles and forced a fumble on the Cardinals’ first possession, it was Twombley who utilized good field position to lead his Twisters to an early score.

The Twisters coaching staff was not afraid to use a passing offense with Twombley under center. The quarterback threw a bubble screen to wide receiver Montana Locke to keep the Cardinals guessing. But on the next play it was running back Tony Edwards who used his speed to get around the right corner for a 15-yard touchdown run.

“We had been working real hard on offense all week, and they were able to carry that over this weekend,” Russ said.

But that would be the last bit of offense from both teams in the first half.

Cardinals’ do-it-all player Cayden Lynch came up with several tough tackles on the line and in the secondary.

With the Twisters driving, Lynch burst through the line and tripped up a runner for a costly loss and the ensuing punt.

After the half, the Cardinals coaching staff attacked the Twister defense with a dual-threat running combination of Jacob Tournball and Nason Tomlinson to chew up yards.

Tomlinson called a quarterback keeper to open the half with a 20-yard run. Riding a wave of momentum, Tomlinson called another keeper, this time using two lead blockers up the side en route to a 15-yard touchdown scamper.

But with the game on the line, it was Twombley’s time to shine.

Quarterback Austin Twombley uses Tony Wdwards as a blocker to break loose for a big run.

Twombley called his own number at the 50-yard line, darting around the Cardinal defense all the way down to the one-yard line. The next play he easily found the end zone, bumping up the Twisters’ advantage to 12-6 at the start of the fourth quarter.

With 24 seconds left and the Cardinals driving, Twombley this time made his mark in the secondary.

Twisters Trotter and Andrew McNish were able to disrupt the quarterback Nason Tomlinson’s timing and force him into a desperation pass that Twombley – who was swarmed by teammates and parents after the game – snagged to seal the victory.