Woodland blows lead but survives Tigers in overtime
Posted on Friday, October 31, 2008
ANDY SHUPE Northwest Arkansas Times Woodland Junior High running back Farico Baymon (21 ) carries the ball as Black’s Colten Folck makes the tackle during play Thursday at Harmon Field. they maybe should have. ” Woodland (7-2, 5-2 NWAC )
For the second-straight week, Bentonville Black forced overtime at Harmon Field and for the secondstraight week, the Tigers left with a loss, this time to Woodland. Following a fumble on Black’s overtime possession, Woodland QB Austin Allen hurdled into the end zone and the Cowboys survived, 20-14 on Thursday night.
With the game tied at 14, the Tigers seemed poised to win it in regulation with 40 seconds remaining after Allen threw an interception at Woodland’s 7-yard line to avoid a sack and safety. An 18-yard field goal attempt by Jack O’Conner sailed wide left, however, giving the Cowboys a second chance and a big sigh of relief.
“ We got a young man through just enough to maybe make their kicker look up, I don’t know, ” Woodland head coach Bobby Crockett said. “ Black is a very wellcoached team. Coach [Chris ] Hutchens does a great job. He had his kids prepared to win the game tonight and
The Tigers (4-5, 3-4 NWAC ) had the first chance in overtime but on first down, QB Corbin Copeland was stripped of the ball by Tyler Tipton and Michael Mahler pounced on it for the Cowboys.
“ That was a big-time play, ” Crockett said. “ Tyler has been nothing but solid. He’s been the heart and soul of our team all year long. ” needed just two plays to send the crowd home happy. Farico Baymon pushed ahead for 2 yards and Allen’s 8-yard jaunt sealed the overtime win.
“ We competed well enough to win, we just didn’t do a few small things that we could’ve done to win, ” Hutchens said. “ The kids showed a lot of heart and a lot of guts. I hate this for them more than for me. ”
The Cowboys looked to blow the game open early, taking a 14-0 lead in the second quarter. The first touchdown came on a 10-yard run by Allen and the eighthgrade signal caller notched his second score on a 1-yard sneak following a 12-play, 66-yard drive.
After a sluggish beginning, Black had apparently had enough. With four minutes left in the half, the Tigers marched 80 yards in 16 plays to cut Woodland’s lead in half. Copeland completed a pair of throws to Luke Rouhselang to move the chains and then hit Austin Hackett for 18 yards. Copeland found Tyler Zengerie for 36 more and finished the drive with a 5-yard toss to Hackett.
The Cowboys attempted a fake punt on their opening possession of the second half but the pass attempt fell incomplete. Black was back in business at Woodland’s 45-yard line but the Tigers bogged down at the 12. The Tigers’ next possession, however, put the tying touchdown on the board on a 4-yard run by Alberto Hernandez.
“ This week our theme was competing, ” Hutchens said. “ We got down 14-0 early but our kids kept on coming back. It would’ve been easy to hang it up and fold up the tent and get beat badly but we didn’t. ”
Allen ran for 32 yards and three touchdowns and threw for 72 yards. Farico Baymon led the rushing attack with 52 yards. Reid Holmes had a reception for 26 yards and Tyler Tuck caught a pair of passes for 17 yards.
It’s rivalry Thursday next week as both squads finish up the 2008 campaign. Black takes on Bentonville Gold while Woodland clashes with Ramay.
“ Ramay’s probably playing as well as anybody right now. Hopefully, we’ll be able to stay in the game with them, ” Crockett said.
In the eighth-grade game, Woodland came from behind to edge Bentonville Lincoln, 15-14. Tearris Wallace scored both touchdowns for Lincoln and for the Cowboys, Brooks Ellis ran in a score and threw to Cole Harris for another touchdown. Trailing 14-13, Ellis hit Carson Shaddy for a 2-point conversion and the lead with just over two minutes to play.
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