By By JEFF FISHER / Vigilant/Argus
Thanks to a strong defense and running game, the Eddies not only took over first place in the Lakeland Conference but also clinched a spot in the playoffs Friday at a packed and chilly Leo Hoffman field.
The Eddies began their scoring on their first possession with only two plays, when running back Jeff Mortimer scored the first of his two touchdowns on a 36-yard run to put the Eddies up 7-0.
The Eddies would hold Berrien to only punts on its first two possessions.
The Eddies would score again when they converted on a fourth down play at their own 38-yard line.
The drive would continue as the Eddies drove down to the Shamrocks 13. The Eddies David Daniels scored on a 13-yard run, putting the Eddies up 14-0. The drive was a 13-play, 72 yard drive, all done with the running game.
The Shamrocks responded to Edwardsburg's drive with their own 74- yard drive, scoring on a four-yard pass from Shelby Wood, who completed 8 of 11 passes on the drive, to Brandon Hecht to narrow the Eddies' lead to 14-7 heading into halftime.
Edwardsburg upped its lead to 22-7 in the third quarter as Mortimer would score from three-yards out. On the extra point attempt, the snap was bad but Mortimer retrieved the ball and passed it to Scott Walker for the two-point conversion.
Berrien Springs would come back with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Wood to Anton Lockett to narrow the Eddies' lead to 22-14.
The Shamrocks would score again on a three-yard touchdown pass to Hecht, but they could not tie the game up when their two-point conversion failed, leaving Edwardsburg with a 22-20 lead.
Edwardsburg's Daniels would score two more times from five-yards out and from 27-yards out to give the Eddies a 35-20 lead with 44 seconds remaining in the game.
That's when things got interesting.
Anton Lockett returned the kickoff 86-yards for a touchdown score for Berrien.
The two-point conversion from Shelby Wood to Kolby Wood cut the Eddies' lead to 35-28 with only 29 seconds left.
The Shamrock's William Holbert recovered the onside kick at the Eddies' 49-yard line.
Shamrocks would drive to the Eddies 40 with seven seconds remaining, but no further.
Wood's desperation pass was intercepted, (the game's only turnover) by Ben Horton at the eight-yard line as time expired.
The Eddies did most of the damage on the ground as several backs amassed for 275 yards.
Daniels led the Eddies with 92 yards to go along with three touchdowns. Jeff Mortimer added 68 and two touchdowns.
Big Blue's defense only allowed Berrien 36 rushing yards but gave up 248 in the air.
The Eddies are now 6-1 overall and 5-0 in the Lakeland Conference, with only two games remaining to play.
They will now travel to Cassopolis on Friday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.