Knights look to regroup after 56-54 loss in barnburner

The Knights fell at home to the Chargers in a barnburner, 56-54, on Friday, Aug. 24.

The result was eerily similar to Northern’s 2011 season opener at Churchill in which it lost, 56-55, when Northern came up short on a two-point conversion that would have given the Knights the lead after scoring a touchdown with just over a minute to play.

Last Friday, Northern found itself in a somewhat familiar scenario, except for the fact that it was trying for two points to tie the game instead of win it after quarterback Collin O’Donnell scored on a 4-yard touchdown run with just over a minute left.

But, O’Donnell was tackled short of the goal line on the conversion attempt.

Despite the Knights coming up two points short — even though they scored 55 points — Head Coach Brett Moore said he thought they should have scored more.

“We made mistakes offensively. We had a couple turnovers, missed some play-action passes and we could have been faster,” he said. “We also have to tackle better and play better on the edge. Our scheme was sound, but we have to get better.”

Walled Lake Northern senior Matt Kosmalski had 17 carries for 252 yards and two touchdowns in the Knights' 56-54 defeat to Livonia Churchill on Friday, Aug. 24. The Knights will look to recover tomorrow, Thursday, Aug. 30 when they host Plymouth Salem. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard)

Northern finished with 612 yards of total offense, with 556 of those coming on the ground, compared to Churchill’s 517 yards of total offense.

Matt Kosmalski led Northern with 17 carries for 252 yards and two touchdowns.

O’Donnell finished with 24 carries for 118 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns. PJ Kern also had 14 carries for 99 yards and two touchdowns.

However, Northern fumbled the ball on its second drive, which Churchill returned 43 yards for a touchdown. The Knights also turned the ball over on downs.

Churchill’s Romello Brown rushed for 190 yards and 5 touchdowns to lead the Chargers.

“We have to watch film and bury it,” Moore said. “We knew they were a good football team. We hung with them and we have to go back to work.”

The Knights will next host Plymouth Salem tomorrow, Thursday, Aug. 30. Salem is coming off a 41-17 victory over Ann Arbor Huron in its opening game.