"They just physically whipped us," Olney coach Damon Rodgers said. "They have a great defense and offensively, they managed to score 24 points. They wanted it more tonight."

Henrietta's formula for victory included capitalizing on three Olney turnovers and not letting the Cubs, who entered the game undefeated, break too many big defensive plays.

All three touchdowns were produced from Olney turnovers inside its 35-yard line. Crumpton's second score - a 14-yard run that broke a 14-14 tie late in the third quarter - was set up by Zach Bergquist’s interception of Callen Pittman.

Blake Wiest then padded the lead with a 38-yard field goal with 9:51 remaining, but the Cubs answered by driving the ball all the way inside the Bearcats' 5-yard line.

However, the drive took up a huge chunk of the clock, and critical sacks from Palacios and Trey Poynor, coupled with a 15-yard penalty, did Olney in.

"Having faith in your defense is an awesome feeling to have," Henrietta coach Byron West said.

"We're always going to be in ballgames if we can just keep going."

Henrietta entered halftime with its spirits high, converting two Olney turnovers into touchdowns in the second quarter for a 14-7 lead.

Cody Gomora punched the first score in, after Cody Cope fumbled at the Cubs 33-yard line, but Olney tied the game minutes later on Reece Rogers’ 41-yard touchdown catch off a pass from Pittman, who finished with 90 rushing yards and was 10-of-19 for 173 yards passing.

But Pittman lost the handle on the ball on the Cubs' next possession 11 yards from his end zone, and Crumpton scored on fourth down from 3 yards out with a mere 35 seconds left in the half.

"People tell us how hard we play, and it's now finally showing," West said. "We go get a win over those guys - they're good, they’re undefeated, they're in our district. The whole thing was set up."

Olney (3-1, 0-1) scored on its first possession of the third quarter on Pittman's 20-yard run, but that would be the last time the Cubs sniffed the end zone.

The Cubs didn't help themselves with the three turnovers and 91 yards' worth of penalties. Cope was limited to 23 rushing yards and the team was held to more than 100 yards less than what it had been averaging.

"We did a lot of dumb things, but one thing we did not do is overlook Henrietta, I promise you that," Rodgers said. "You don't overlook Henrietta."

That's a notice the rest of 9-2A can take to the bank.

Staff sports writer Zach Duncan can be reached weekdays after 4 p.m. by calling him at 720-3470 or 1-800-627-1646. Or e-mail him at duncanz(at)timesrecordnews.com.