TIE GAME … Caden Sinclair fights for end zone and the game tying touchdown in the third quarter.
PHOTOS BY REBEKAH DELL / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
NONLEAGUE THRILLER … Montpelier running back Carter Meek looks for room to run on the perimeter of the Bulldog defense.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
MONTPELIER (September 5, 2025) – Jackson Flower came up with a couple of key defensive stops Friday night, preserving Edgerton’s thrilling 29-28 victory over Montpelier at Hobe Krouse Field.
With the score tied at 22-22, less than two minutes remaining in the game, the 6-0, 200-pound senior linebacker delivered when the Bulldogs needed it the most.
“He’s (Flower) an incredible player and a three-year starter,” said Edgerton head coach Brody Flegal. “He does a lot for us in all three phases of the game.”
Montpelier was driving into Edgerton territory when Locos’ quarterback Hayden Sharps was pressured by Flower on fourth-and-five from the Locos’ 41-yard line before finally being picked off by Karter Gibson at the Locos’ 37.
Three plays later, Bulldogs’ quarterback Maddox Baker found Kellen Sanchez on a 25-yard touchdown pass with 1:12 remaining, and Parker Elden’s PAT kick made it 29-22 in favor of Edgerton.
The Locos would take advantage of a couple of 15-yard penalties against the Bulldogs, resulting in a first down at the Edgerton 26.
Two plays later, Sharps connected with Jaxon Stahler on a broken coverage pass covering 23 yards for a touchdown with 18 seconds left.
Again, it was Flower who came through with another stellar defensive stop as the Locos were attempting to win the game despite trailing by one point, 29-28.
Montpelier was attempting a two-point conversion run to win it, but Flower delivered again, stuffing Locos’ sophomore running back Carter Meek out of the endzone, preserving the one-point triumph for the Bulldogs.
“I was proud of all of our guys as a whole,” said Flegal. “We’re going to learn from this, get better, and move on. Hats off the Montpelier, it was a fun game all around.”
Montpelier had the upper hand early on, scoring on its first two offensive possessions in taking a 14-0 lead.
The Locos took advantage of a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty on the Bulldogs on their initial offensive series, with Griffin Cooley scoring on a 20-yard run at the 9:52 mark of the first quarter.
Montpelier took advantage of a fumbled punt by Edgerton that was recovered by freshman Hazen Smith at the Edgerton 33.
Two plays later, Cooley raced 28 yards into the end zone for his seventh touchdown of the season. Cooley finished with 132 yards on the ground on 18 carries and two scores.
Just before halftime, Edgerton took advantage of a 15-yard personal foul penalty on Montpelier at the Locos’ 20-yard line. On third-and-three, the Bulldogs’ quarterback found Gibson on a three-yard scoring pass with nine seconds remaining, closing the gap to 14-7.
The Bulldogs tied the game at 14-14 with 9:02 remaining in the third quarter as Baker connected with Caden Sinclair on an 18-yard shovel pass for the touchdown. The drive was aided by three Montpelier penalties totaling 35 yards.
“I thought our kids battled, and it came down to one play and they made it,” said Montpelier head coach Andy Robinson.
“For about one drive there, I thought we started to lose our composure a little bit. We did a good job of getting it back, but we can’t do that in any part of the game.”
Montpelier answered back late in the third quarter as Sharps eluded a pair of defenders and went untouched into the endzone from 24 yards out, and the Locos led 22-14.
After stopping Montpelier on a fourth-down play at the Edgerton 42, Baker completed 3 of 4 passes for 54 yards on a six-play drive resulting in an impressive fingertip over-the-shoulder catch by Kellen Sanchez for a 38-yard touchdown, tying the score at 22-22.
“He (Baker) made some really big plays scrambling around tonight and keeping his eyes downfield,” said Flegal.
Sanchez hauled in seven catches for 110 yards and a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns, leading the Bulldogs, despite being held to just 14 yards on three catches in the first half.
Baker completed 16 of 23 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns for Edgerton despite being outgained, 299-292, in total offense.
“Proud of our kids and their effort and proud of our coaches for sticking together,” said the Edgerton coach. “We challenged them at halftime to do your job and plug away. I thought we did that in the second half.”
Edgerton’s come-from-behind victory sets the stage for next Friday as the unbeaten Bulldogs take a 3-0 record into their Green Meadows Conference opener at Antwerp.
“Our goal before the season started was to try to come out of tonight being 3-0,” pointed out the Bulldogs’ coach.
“We did that, and now we got a different animal in the Green Meadows Conference, and it starts with Antwerp.”
Montpelier slipped to 1-2 overall and is looking to end its two-game losing streak, opening up Toledo Area Athletic Conference action Friday when they visit Erie Mason.
“We have to come and continue to get better for the next seven weeks,” said Robinson. “If we can do that, then we could have an opportunity in week ten to push ourselves into the playoffs.”
EHS 0 7 7 15 – 29
MHS 14 0 8 6 – 28
M – Cooley 20-yd run (run failed)
M – Cooley 28-yd run (Sharps pass to Hartsock)
E – Gibson 3-yd pass from Baker (P. Elden kick)
E – Sinclair 18-yd pass from Baker (P. Elden kick)
M – Sharps 24-yd run (Meek run)
E – Sanchez 38-yd pass from Baker (Sanchez pass to P. Elden)
E – Sanchez 25-yd pass from Baker (P. Elden kick)
M – Stahler 23-yd pass from Sharps (run failed)