Midland Christian (4-6, 2-2) had a one point lead late in the fourth quarter in the bi-district game of the TAPPS Division II tournament, but Grace Community (9-1, 2-1) was able to find the end zone on a 40-yard Grant Turner touchdown run to send the Mustangs packing in a 33-28 win for the Cougars.
Colten Newsom put the Mustangs on the board with two minutes left in the first quarter to go up 7-0 on a rushing score, but with seven minutes left in the second quarter McCade Stinson took it in on a QB keeper. Grace Community went for an onside kick but Midland Christian recovered at their own 48-yard line. Moments later, Newsom tossed a touchdown 52-yard touchdown pass to make it a 14-6 game. Brylee Perez burned the coverage and was wide open for an untouched score. At the end of the first half, Zach Davis took it in from 31 yards out for the Cougars, and a two point conversion tied the game at 14-14.
Both teams scored in the third quarter to tie the game 21-21, with Newsom crossing the end zone on a 27-yard touchdown run. However, Blake Harmon nailed a short field goal to take a 24-21 lead for the Cougars. He hit another from 40 yards to make it a 27-21 game. With about two minutes left, Perez ran it down the sideline for 60-yards before being tracked down by Cougar defenders. He scored on a 10-yard rushing touchdown on the next play, and the extra point put the Mustangs up by one. Midland Christian kicked off and Grace Community wound up with solid field position at their own 40-yard line. The Cougars marched down the field and Turner scored on a 40-yard touchdown run to take the lead and secure the five point win.
Newsom was 5-for-10 for 101 yards and a touchdown, and also ran 12 times for 49 yards with a pair of rushing touchdowns to lead the Mustang offense. Perez had four carries for 75 yards and a score, and also caught six passes for 111 yards with the long touchdown. Grant Muniz was 4-for-5 passing for 37 yards.
The Cougars will move on to the second round of the state tournament against Liberty Christian (11-0, 4-0) who blew out Bishop Dunne 49-0 in the opening round.