In a key Cahokia Conference football battle, Breese Central edged past Red Bud 13-12 Friday night.
Trailing 13-12 with 10:47 left in the game, Red Bud had a chance to tie the game or go for the win with a two-point conversion. The Musketeers went for two and were denied.
That proved to be the deciding play of the game, as neither team would score the rest of the way.
“We wanted to put the pressure on Central,” said Red Bud coach Dave Lucht. “I really figured that each team would score one more time in the fourth quarter. Our holder was hurt so that played in the decision, but I don’t regret it one bit.”
With the loss, Red Bud dropped to 3-3. Coach Lucht figures his team needs to win out to make it into the playoffs.
“I really think we need six wins to get in this year,” added Lucht. “I don’t think we will have enough points with only five wins. So the remaining three games (Jefferson, Missouri; Columbia and Sparta) will be very important.”
In what turned out to be a very even game, there was just one touchdown scored in each of the four quarters.
Red Bud scored first when Alex Phegley connected with Tyler Hubert on a 62-yard touchdown pass. The extra point kick failed, and the Musketeers led 6-0  at the 10:02 mark of the first quarter.
Central grabbed the lead midway through the second quarter with an eight-yard touchdown run by Nathan Poelker. Central added the extra point to go up 7-6. That lead would hold until the second half.
Poelker found the end zone again for Breese Central late in the third quarter with a 49-yard run. The kick failed, and the Cougars led 13-6 with 1:22 to play in the third quarter.
Kevin Crafton scored from five yards out early in the fourth to cut the deficit to one point, 13-12 with 10:47 left in the game, setting up the decision to go for two points. The conversion failed, and Central held on for the win.
Phegley ran the ball 10 times for 87 yards to lead Red Bud while Hubert added 56 yards on 14 attempts to go along with his four receptions for 93 yards.
Phegley completed 8-of-13 passes for 133 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.
Red Bud will host Jefferson High School from Festus, Missouri Friday night.