Photo Credit: Jeff Stead/PrepsKC 
St. Michael rolled the dice and it paid off in their 28-24 win over Van Horn on Friday night.
The Guardians scored the game-winning touchdown with just 26 seconds left when a field goal would have tied the game and sent it to overtime.
"I believe in our players," St. Michael head coach Andrew Pitts said. "We were able to get some push, our offensive line played great all night. I told the guys we're just going to keep going. It was a battle of attrition."
Van Horn came up with the game’s first takeaway and turned it into points.
Darrius Page grabbed the interception at the Van Horn 20 with 9:41 left in the first.
Just over two minutes later, Falcon kicker Levi Carter split the uprights from 31 yards out and it was 3-0 in favor of the home team.
The Guardians answered before quarter’s end on a 27-yard pass from Cameron Zaun to Henry Miller.
But that was the end of the back-and-forth, at least until the second half, as St. Michael held the 7-3 lead into the half.
The Falcons got the lead back after another turnover set up a score.
St. Michael fumbled a punt return and Van Horn recovered at the Guardians’ 32.
A 15-yard fade pass to Za'Corrie Kerr put the Falcons back up (10-7) at 7:23 of the third.
The lead changed hands again just seconds into the fourth.
Zaun called his own number on a 1-yard run and put the Guardians up 14-10, but not for long.
Less than two minutes later, Terrell Johnson took it in from 21 yards out giving Van Horn a 17-14 edge.
Offense remained the story of the fourth quarter with Zaun scoring again on a QB sneak to make it 21-17 with 7:08 left in the game.
Van Horn looked to be in good shape after a 49-yard run by Johnson set up first-and-goal, and Sammie Bailey punched it one play later to make it 24-21 Falcons with 5:18 to play.
But St. Michael never flinched, scoring the game's final TD on their last drive and adding an interception on the ensuing possession to put the game to bed.
"They're (Van Horn) a great team and they played great," Pitts said. "Just a very, very fun football game."
The Guardians (5-1) host East Buchanan next week.
Van Horn (4-2) looks to rebound at Summit Christian Academy.
