A Tipton touchdown with five seconds left in the game sealed the Class 1 District 2 title for the Cardinals over Harrisburg, 42-36, Friday night in Tipton.

Harrisburg hoped to avenge a six-point loss earlier in the season against the Cardinals, who also claimed the first-ever CS8 Conference title. Despite the frigid temperatures, the two red-hot offenses put on a show that featured eight lead ties or changes.

Tipton took the opening kick-off and started their drive on the 49. Deploying misdirection and multiple handoffs, the rushing attack kept the Bulldogs on their heels most of the game. Tipton drove to the 24, but on third-and-eight, a bad snap set the Cardinals behind the sticks to force a punt.

Starting on their own 21-yard line, the Bulldogs handed the ball to junior Caleb Sager, setting up a second-and-one. Sager took the next handoff, passing the line-to-gain at the 38. Senior Trace Combs then kept the ball, rushing for 14 yards and another first down. Senior receiver Bryce Ott then went in motion and took the handoff from Combs, rushing for 23 yards and a first down on the Cardinals’ 29. The Bulldogs couldn’t move the ball further, turning it over on downs on the 25.

Tipton struck quickly on its next possession, hitting sophomore Ty Bixler for a 75-yard touchdown pass to go up 6-0 with 3:57 left in the first quarter after the two-point conversion failed.

“Tipton is so tough up front, using multiple formations and different handoffs. It’s a lot to prepare for,” said Harrisburg coach Brennan Claas. 

Harrisburg began its second drive on the 40. The Bulldog offense was stymied and faced a fourth and 22. On the punt attempt, junior punter/receiver Rylee Robinson averted a blocked punt, dodging three Cardinal defenders before booting the ball 46 yards.

Tipton went to work again, using a series of runs and passes to overcome a rash of penalties. Senior running back Lucas Cashman capped the drive, rushing for a six-yard touchdown. The Bulldogs stopped the two-point conversion again, keeping the score 12-0 with 8:38 remaining in the half.

Harrisburg started their next drive on the 39, needing a score to keep the game in reach. Sager rushed for several first downs before corralling a ricocheted pass from Combs off the helmet of a Cardinal defender for a touchdown. The Bulldogs ran the swinging gate for the two-point conversion attempt. Robinson snapped the ball directly to Sager, who rushed to his right. He then threw the pass back to Robinson, an eligible receiver, for the score to cut the lead to 12-8 with 7:32 left in the half.

Tipton also looked ready to score on its next drive, moving the ball 54 yards, mainly on the ground, to a second-and-goal from the 1. There, Harrisburg junior Jonathan Darwent and Sager recovered a Cardinal fumble, stopping the drive one yard short.

Both teams had another possession in the half, but neither could add to the score, heading into the break separated by four points, 12-8.

Harrisburg started the second half on the 31. On second and 10, Combs pitched the ball to Sager, who threw deep to Ott for a 69-yard touchdown and Harrisburg’s first lead, 14-12. The two-point conversion failed, but the Bulldogs led by two.

Tipton took the ball next, starting at the 43. The Cardinals earned four first downs before their quarterback kept the ball and rushed for an eight-yard touchdown. This time, the two-point conversion was good, and Tipton retook the lead, 20-14, with 6:14 left in the third quarter.

Harrisburg started the ensuing drive on the 48, and Combs quickly hit Robinson for a first down on the Tipton 28. Combs completed another pass to Ott for a first down on the 16 before Robinson rushed for an 11-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion was no good, but Harrisburg had tied the score at 20 apiece with 3:25 left in the quarter.

“Our guys just kept coming back all game. I’m so proud of our effort,” Coach Claas said. 

Tipton, as they had all game, answered the call. They gained several long runs before scoring on a 10-yard rush to retake the lead. The two-point conversion was good to put the Cardinals back in front, 28-20, with 11 seconds left in the third quarter.

“Every time you think you have them hemmed in, they come with a new wrinkle or attack a slightly different way. Tipton played very well,” Coach Claas said.

Harrisburg began their next drive on their 30. The Bulldogs used a hook and ladder for a big play to start the fourth quarter. Combs connected with Ott 15 yards down the field, who then pitched it back to Robinson, who gained another 15 yards for a first down at the Cardinal 40-yard line. Later, with the drive about to stall, Combs completed a pass to Sager to set up a fourth-and-one in four-down territory. Combs kept the ball, rushing for a first down and setting up a first-and-goal from the two-yard line. Combs kept it again for the short touchdown. The Bulldogs then went deep into the playbook, running a double-reverse pass, Combs to Sager to Ott and back to Combs for the successful two-point conversion, tying the score once again at 28 each with 8:36 remaining in the game.

“There was no point in saving anything, so we showed them every play we had,” Coach Claas said, discussing the multiple trick plays his team executed. “I even borrowed a play from my brother.”

Tipton opened its following drive from its own 14 and returned to their run game. A long run gained a first-and-10 at the 31. Cashman then gained another first down to the 44 before ripping off a 56-yard touchdown run to regain the lead for the Cardinals. The Cardinals fumbled the two-point conversion snap, but Cashman scooped up the loose ball and completed the score to go up 36-28 with 6:02 remaining in the contest.

Harrisburg started the next drive on the 45. After Sager gained a first down on third-and-three, Combs found Ott for a 14-yard reception for a first down at the 29. Combs then found Sager for a wheel route out of the backfield for a 29-yard touchdown pass. The Bulldogs again used a trick play; this time, Robinson pitched the snap to Combs, who then found freshman Silas Buckler for the two-point conversion. The score was tied again at 36 -36 with only 3:44 remaining.

After a penalty, Tipton began its next drive on the 30. After several short runs, they faced a crucial fourth-and-three on the 37. With the district title on the line, Cashman got the call, gaining just enough ground for a fresh set of downs.

After a few short gains and a penalty, the Cardinals faced third-and-12 with only 1:02 remaining. Cashman caught a pass up the middle and rushed down the field, gaining 37 yards. With a short run and an incomplete pass to stop the clock, Tipton again faced a third-and-7 with only 28 seconds remaining. Against it was Cashman. The junior playmaker caught a pass out of the backfield and ran for 19 yards, setting up a first-and-goal from the 10 with 20 seconds left.

On first down, Ott knocked down a pass in the endzone. On second down, Tipton threw the ball into a crowd at the goal line, where the Bulldogs batted down the ball down. On third down, however, sophomore receiver Paxton Pyle caught a ball near the goal line and rushed past a defender for what would be the game-winning touchdown with only five seconds remaining. The Bulldogs stopped the two-point conversion but trailed by six with time about to expire.

The Bulldogs had one last attempt. The hook and ladder needed several more pitches, but it was not to be. Tipton won the epic contest featuring eight lead changes or ties, 42-36.

“Our seniors left huge shoes to fill; this was such a great season,” Coach Claas said. “I’m just proud of everything we accomplished. Our seniors and upperclassmen were great, and our young kids grew up. From where we were after the Scotland game to where we are now, it’s just awesome. Our future looks bright.”

Harrisburg ends their season with a 7-5 record. Tipton improves to 11-1 and advances to play District 4 champion Penney (8-4) in the state semifinals at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Penney High School in Hamilton, Mo. The winner will play for the Class 1 state title against either Adrian (11-1) or St. Vincent (12-0) next Saturday at Mizzou’s Faurot Field in Columbia.