Although leading at halftime, early second-half errors from MacArthur gave Bishop McGuinness the opportunities the Irish needed to take the lead and foil the Highlanders, 38-23, in a critical district encounter at Cameron Stadium Friday. “They’re a good team that presents a lot of challenges. I think the bottom line is we had a couple special teams mishaps at the beginning of the second half and then a turnover on offense,” said MacArthur head coach Brett Manning.
“Just made a few mistakes that cost us the game.” Entering the second half with a 13-10 lead, an onside kick from McGuinness caught MacArthur special teams off guard, leading to the Irish making the recovery. A quick 39-yard pass from McGuiness quarterback Damon Cochran to running back JR Fletcher landing the fighting Irish five yards away from the end zone.
They would score on the next play on a run from Fletcher and in 20 seconds, had taken a 17-13 lead. MacArthur wasted little time getting back in front. After being forced into a third down situation on its own 41-yard line, Macquarterback Aivan Locklin found receiver Josh Rushing for a gain of 17 and a first down.
Two plays later on second down, Locklin looked downfield and connected with a wide-open Rushing, who carried it in for a 38-yard touchdown to reclaim the lead at 20-17. However, MacArthur’s defense couldn’t hold McGuinness for long, eventually allowing another touchdown around the eight-minute mark. In a flash MacArthur had lost the lead .