Cory Carignan scored twice in the Briar Cliff football team's 18-16 win over Doane Saturday at Memorial field. Carignan turned in his best performance in the Blue and Gold, hauling in seven catches for 142 yards and two TDs.
 
"I appreciate how hard the team competed today! We didn't make it easy on ourselves and the defense was fantastic," said head coach Shane LaDage. "We showed a lot of resiliency to continue to bounce back from miscues on offense and once again made plays when they mattered most. We continue to improve as the season goes on and I'm proud to coach this group!"
 
Trailing by five in the fourth quarter following a 14-play, 72-yard Doane drive that ended in a field goal, the Chargers needed a big play from the offense. Carignan answered that call, hauling in a short pass from Brock Saya and won a foot race with the Tiger defensive backs for the 91-yard game winning TD.
 
Carignan's first touchdown of the day came on the six-play, 60-yard opening drive. A personal foul by Doane on the kickoff and 25-yard reception from Steven Whiting put the Cliff in the red zone. On a play-action pass, Saya dropped the ball just over the DB into the hands of Carignan for the TD. The Chargers converted the two-point conversion on a trick play that featured former QB John Bell completing a pass to Whiting to put the Cliff up 8-0.
 
The Charger offense stumbled into halftime, turning the ball over on four straight possessions on tipped passes and a fumble. With starting field position on the BC side of the field on all four drives, Nathan Koziol's defensive unit would hold strong by limiting the Tigers to just 10 points. The Tigers held a 13-8 lead at halftime.
 
Jacob Myers connected on a 36-yard field goal in the third quarter to pull the Cliff with two. The scoring opportunity was set up following a Christian Mendoza punt that was downed at the five-yard line and a three-and-out forced by the BC defense.
 
Carignan's 142 receiving yards are the most by a Charger in a game this season. Whiting was active in the passing game with five catches for 79 yards. Matthew Mason rushed 24 times for 69 yards.
 
Saya completed 21-of-33 passes for 297 yards and two TDs.
 
Angel Nava-Esparza led the Cliff in tackles for the second game in a row with eight (four solo). MJ Montgomery had five tackles and 1.0 sacks. Winston Gassant had four tackles, including 2.0 tackles for a loss.
 
Tulsa Janish and Zach Buick were key in limiting the Tigers to 147 yards of offense as they had three and two pass breakups, respectively.
 
The Chargers out gained the Tigers 319 to 238 and had the advantage in time of possession 44:31 to 23:27.
 
Briar Cliff is back at Memorial Field next Saturday for a meeting with #1 Northwestern at 1:00 p.m.