The Meadows gets defensive, tops Needles

A defensive stand in the fourth quarter Friday helped The Meadows’ football team hold off visiting Needles, 16-7 in a Division III state quarterfinal.

Trailing by six, Needles drove to The Meadows’ 8-yard line with 5:20 left in the fourth quarter. On fourth down, Needles quarterback William Dunn threw to an open receiver in the end zone, but the ball bounced off his hands.

On the ensuing drive The Meadows drove to Needles’ 3-yard line, where Sander Straus sealed the win with a 20-yard field goal with 1:47 left. Running back Jack Berkley fueled the drive with a 39-yard run.

Berkley finished with 27 carries for 139 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Jacob Gleason went 7 for 9 for 107 yards and a touchdown for The Meadows (9-2).

Needles scored on its first drive, then was held scoreless the rest of the way. Quarterback William Dunn went 4 of 8 for 45 yards passing and ran four times for 60 yards for Needles (6-4).