ARCANUM – Arcanum and Northeastern traded punches for four quarters Friday night, with the Knights landing the final blow in a 54–49 win over the Trojans.
Northeastern stepped in as a last-minute opponent after injuries left Mississinawa Valley unable to safely field a team. The Knights came out aggressively, recovering an onside kick to open the game and scoring on the ensuing drive. They recovered another onside kick after that touchdown, then scored again after an Arcanum offsides penalty extended their drive. Northeastern converted fourth-and-6 for a 12–0 lead.
The unusual start kept going. Successful onside kicks are a rare sight, yet the teams recovered three in the first quarter alone. Five onside kicks were attempted in the first half.
Arcanum answered with M.J. Macy, who became the workhorse in the Trojans’ ground game. Macy scored to get Arcanum on the board, then scored again on a 20-yard run after the Trojans recovered an onside kick. Arcanum led 13–12 at the end of the first quarter.
Macy later powered a pile into the end zone for another touchdown and ran in the two-point conversion, putting the Trojans ahead 21–12. Northeastern answered with a 93-yard touchdown pass on third-and-7. Arcanum put together a late drive before quarterback Weston Schmidt connected with Talon Stone for a touchdown as time expired in the first half. Macy added the two-point conversion, giving Arcanum a 29–26 halftime lead.
Northeastern opened the second half with a 30-yard touchdown pass to take a 32–29 lead. Arcanum answered with a scoring drive capped by Macy, who also ran in the two-point conversion. The teams continued to trade scores, and Macy’s two-yard touchdown run put Arcanum ahead 43–40 at the end of the third quarter.
The lead changed hands again when Northeastern hit a 72-yard touchdown pass on third-and-9. The Knights converted the two-point try for a 40–37 advantage. Arcanum answered with a 40-yard Macy touchdown run, then held a 49–46 lead after Bishop Cartwright intercepted a Northeastern pass.
With 1:35 remaining, Arcanum faced fourth-and-2 from its own 10. The Trojans tried to draw Northeastern offsides before using a timeout, then kept the offense on the field. Macy was stopped short, giving the Knights the ball at the Arcanum 10.
The Trojans’ defense stopped Northeastern on its first three plays, setting up fourth-and-13 with 27 seconds left. The Knights converted with a touchdown pass, then added the two-point conversion to take a 54–49 lead.
Arcanum recovered Northeastern’s ensuing onside kick and moved the ball with completions to Raysean Miles and another receiver, but the Trojans ran out of time.
Even in defeat, Arcanum showed what its offense can do against a quality opponent. The Trojans moved the ball consistently, controlled stretches of the game with their physical ground attack and found ways to score. Northeastern proved to be a strong team, making Arcanum’s offensive performance all the more telling. The Trojans’ ability to impose their will against that kind of opponent is something future teams will have to take seriously.
Afterward, Coach Macy accepted responsibility for the fourth-down decision.
“That was my call. I’m a gambler. I wanted to end the game. We should have gotten a first down, and we didn’t,” he said.
Macy said Northeastern’s offense was difficult to stop, but he was proud of how his team competed against an opponent it had little time to prepare for.
“They’re a good team over there,” he said. “I’m proud of my guys.”
Macy called the matchup good preparation for Arcanum’s game against Tri-Village, saying he hoped it would toughen the team for what’s ahead. “It’s all in front of us,” he told his players after the game.
