For the second straight year, Edinburgh lost a heartbreaking opening season game to the same opponent.
This hurt worse, though, as it was in overtime.
Tindley’s Antonio Robinson capped off a big night by running 10 yards for a touchdown to defeat the host Lancers 26-20 in two overtimes.
This was one that Edinburgh let slip away. Literally.
On Edinburgh’s second chance in overtime, the Lancers mistimed the snap, fumbling the ball. Tindley recovered to end the marathon.
Robinson’s score, his second of the night, capped a big game as the Tiger quarterback rushed for 237 yards.
While Robinson used his legs, his counterpart, junior Riley Palmeter did the opposite, passing for two touchdowns and 180 yards, including a nice 65-yard pass to Caleb Dewey that tied the score early in the fourth quarter.
Edinburgh’s first score was also a thing of beauty.
Palmeter looked to run, but he ended up scrambling to his left when the holes were clogged. With Tiger defenders all over him, Palmeter spotted Landon Burton alone in the end zone and lofted a pass which Burton easily caught with 4:00 to go to the half. The conversion failed, but the Lancers had the lead, 6-0.
Edinburgh then gifted the Tigers their first score when Jayden Pinkston intercepted an ill-advised pass on fourth down. Pinkston then ran 70 yards untouched for the score. The kick failed, but suddenly the Tigers had tied the score 6-6 with 5:05 left in the third.
The game was a typical season opener, with mistakes, miscommunications, penalties and missed opportunities on both sides.
The Tigers more than doubled their problems compared to Edinburgh. Tindley had 16 penalties for 100 yards, and three of them nullified big plays. Trouble is that Edinburgh couldn’t take advantage.
Tindley also didn’t help itself with four turnovers, including a fumble-killing scoring drive with a minute to go in the first half, when the all-everything Robinson fumbled the ball in the end zone after a gain of 20 yards.
Edinburgh hurt itself late in the third with consecutive offside penalties that kept a Tiger scoring drive alive. Ever the opportunist, Robinson then ran, breaking several tackles to score from 29 yards. Robinson then hit Davion Catlett for the conversion and 14-6 lead.
After Edinburgh caught the momentum when Dewey hauled in Palmeter’s pass, Tindley took it right back with a 70-yards march, capped by a 21-yard run by Kam Jennings.
Edinburgh then drove 70 yards and scored when Austin Streeval bulled over from the 4. Unfortunately for the Lancers, the kick was blocked and overtime ensued; that ultimately didn’t go in the home team’s favor.
Next Friday, the Lancers are scheduled to travel to North Decatur for their first Mid-Indiana Conference game of the season.
