McCutcheon Rides Defensive Takeaways to 20-16 Win Over Lebanon
The short version
- McCutcheon defeated Lebanon 20-16 on Sept. 25, improving to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the Sagamore Conference.
- Brodyn Sharp returned an interception 43 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.
- Karson Smith threw touchdown passes to Shane Burchett and Cason Trader, the latter the winning score.
- Mak Leonard recovered two fumbles, and McCutcheon took an intentional safety in the final minute before stopping Lebanon's last drive.
- McCutcheon shares first place in the conference standings with undefeated Danville.
Brodyn Sharp's 43-yard pick-six highlighted a night of turnovers and stops as McCutcheon moved to 4-2 and 2-0 in Sagamore Conference play.
McCutcheon edged Lebanon 20-16 on Friday, Sept. 25, in a Sagamore Conference matchup powered by a defense that has become the identity of a resurgent Mavericks program.
The turning point came at the 10:02 mark of the second quarter, when senior Brodyn Sharp intercepted quarterback Jake Linton and returned the ball 43 yards for a touchdown. Sharp, one of the team's best tacklers in practice, had been moved to defense for the first time this season, a decision that paid off against the Tigers. He said he read the formation, saw the pass coming, caught the ball and took it to the house.
The Mavericks' defense had entered the game with momentum, having posted shutouts of Culver Academies and Harrison in the previous two weeks. Against Lebanon, the unit added another interception with 57 seconds left in the first half, and senior Mak Leonard recovered two fumbles, including one with 1:03 remaining.
That late fumble recovery proved decisive. After McCutcheon took possession, Lebanon pushed the Mavericks back to their own goal line to set up fourth down. Rather than punt from the end zone with under a minute to play, McCutcheon took an intentional safety to make it 20-16. Lebanon got the ball back but could not break through on its final possession. Head coach Michael Fenters credited his assistants for recommending the safety, saying they told him not to be too proud and to let the defense finish the game.
Quarterback Karson Smith provided the offensive scoring against a physical Lebanon defense. He connected with freshman Shane Burchett on a 7-yard touchdown at the 1:56 mark of the second quarter to cut the deficit to 14-13, then hit senior Cason Trader on a 28-yard touchdown with 4:39 left in the third quarter for what proved to be the winning points. Fenters said his players out-executed Lebanon's multiple defensive adjustments in key moments.
The win lifted McCutcheon to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in Sagamore Conference play, where the Mavericks sit atop the standings alongside undefeated Danville. The turnaround is significant for a program coming off a 2-8 season and several down years before that. Sharp said the result proves McCutcheon can be a winning program with a chance to contend for a conference title, adding that the team is clicking with the right mindset.
Fenters also noted the defense has become so reliable that the team can almost count on a defensive touchdown each game, a pattern that continued against Lebanon even on a night when the offense did not pile up points.
Lebanon's next scheduled game is at Waynesville High School on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 2:45 PM EDT.
Games to watch
