WOODSFIELD — There are heartbreaking losses to end a season, but Monroe Central High’s wild 37-36 Division VI playoff setback Friday night to Colonel Crawford will sting for a long time as one that got away.

Hoping to advance past the opening round in Region 23, the Seminoles were set to chew time off the clock with 7:02 left after the Eagles pulled within one score, 36-29.

A lost fumble after a 33-yard third down completion gave the visitors life at their own 40 and from there the dice rolled Colonel Crawford’s way with a TD with 1:14 to play.

“We fought all night, but (Crawford) has two good backs and they had some big chunk yardage plays,” Central coach Jonathan ‘Fin’ Calder, whose club finished 9-2, said.

“A fumble call didn’t go our way, unfortunately, but we can’t make mistakes against a good team.”

“Proud of this senior class for all the great things we’ve accomplished, but it wasn’t meant to be,” added Calder, as Colonel Crawford scored a late TD marching 60 yards in 11 plays aided by a facemask penalty on the hosts.

Crawford’s 4th-and-3 from the ‘Noles seven-yard line saw Dominic Dean pick up four, and two plays later, Brayden Holt threw to sophomore Roen Thew for a six-yard TD.

The Eagles called time, deciding to go for two. and a Holt-to-Dean connection worked on the left side for the margin of victory.

Monroe’s all-Ohio senior quarterback Tucker Howell, who ran for 188 yards and four TDs, while passing for another, had enough time to give his team a shot. He completed passes to Logan Powell (10 yards) and Max Demchak (18 yards), and scrambled for 10 to the Seminoles’ 49, but a deep toss at :35 was intercepted near the 15.

The Eagles opened the scoring on the game’s first play when Conner McMichael bolted 64 yards along the right sideline, but the PAT run failed to leave it 6-0.

After a Monroe Central three-and-out, Crawford started from its own 48 and needed three plays. Thew’s 35-yard scamper made it 12-0 with 8:41 showing.

The ‘Noles needed two keepers by Howell to get the milk jug noisemakers rattling from the home bleachers. The senior ran for 30 and then scored on a 50-yard run. Wyatt Cohen’s kick made it 12-7 at 6:24.

Joe Zizzo’s 21-yard field goal pushed the Eagles up 15-7, but Howell found the end zone again on an 11-yard run, while his jump pass to Evan Farnsworth on the PAT evened matters at 15-all with 8:43 left.

Howell had two INTs before the half, but made up for it on the opening drive of the third. He drilled an eight-yard TD strike to Farnsworth, while Cohen’s boot made it 22-15.

Howell’s five-yard run to paydirt at 3:32 made it 28-15, but Crawford closed to 28-22 on a pass to Dean for eight yards with :50 showing in the third.

The lead grew to 36-22 when Howell kept from 18 yards with 8:04 remaining.

Standouts in the trenches for MC were seniors Tyler Whitacre, Parker Sefert, Andrew Pickenpaugh, Billy Kroll, Ashton Lumbatis, and Farnsworth. Owen Howard led the ‘Noles in tackles.

Cooper Howell led MC receivers with three catches for 29.