by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — In the most exciting game of the night for Sumner County teams, South Haven lost a heart-breaker and saw its 22 regular game winning streak come to an end losing to West Elk 44-42 in overtime at Howard.

South Haven would outscore the host Patriots 22-0 in the fourth quarter to knot the game at 36-all and send it into overtime. Once in overtime, J.T. Yunker would score on a touchdown run on South Haven’s first possession. But the Cardinals failed to score on the two-point conversion run by Parker Ray. This was critical.

Because it was West Elk’s turn. The Patriots would score on a 4-yard run to tie the game. And then a two-point conversion run would seal victory for West Elk.

For South Haven it was the first loss since losing to Caldwell in 2010.

In the battle of the undefeated, South Haven had a rather rough first three quarters. West Elk would score the game’s first three out of four touchdowns and led 30-14 at the half. A Yunker 67 yard touchdown run at the 5:13 mark in the first quarter and a 41 yard touchdown throw from Anthony Hawkins to Zach Pounds accounted for the Cardinals first two touchdowns.

In the third quarter, West Elk added another touchdown on a 6 yard run and South Haven was clearly in trouble down 36-14 going into the fourth quarter.

But then the Cardinals started to score. Yunker would recover his own fumble and then go for a touchdown to move South Haven within 16 points. Then Yunker would score from the 10 and the 4. South Haven would make both of its two-point conversions and with 5:57 to play this game was knotted at 36-all.

Neither team score thereafter in regulation and that sent the game into overtime.

South Haven would accumulate 466 yards in total offense to West Elk’s 297. The Cards would outrush the Patriots 378-198. But the Cardinals would cough up the football five times losing four of them and had two interceptions. All told South Haven had six turnovers to West Elk’s two. And that was your difference.

J.T. Yunker led South Haven with 268 yards of rushing and four touchdowns. He averaged 8.6 yards per carry. The full stats could be found here:South Haven-West Elk stats