|
|
|
Better to heat up late than not at all.
Bethel did just that Friday night in a vital come-from-behind 14-13 District 3A-4 win over Chandler’s Lions. The Wildcats were down 13-0 after three quarters, but scored twice in 2 minutes and 11 seconds to advance their district tally to 3-2.
This keeps the Wildcats’ postseason hopes chugging right along, and all but assures that the Lions (1-8, 1-4) are eliminated from the playoff hunt.
In a tale of “give and don’t take,” both teams combined for seven fumbles, an interception and six turnovers on downs. Bethel lost all three of its fumbles, including two in the opening minutes and one that was returned for a first-quarter Lion touchdown.
Chandler dropped the ball four times on the night and managed to corral only one of the slip-ups. Chandler quarterback Chance Rich was stuck with the pilfered pass that shut down a late attempt at a takeover, and the Lions turned the ball over five times on failed fourth-down conversion attempts.
“We just kept making mistakes and shooting ourselves in the foot,” Chandler head coach Neal Bacon said. “We just couldn’t finish them off.”
Both offenses struggled early on, but the initial momentum belonged to the hosts. The Lions went three-and-out to start the game, and traded fumbles resulted in a Bethel three-and-out and then the first of Chandler’s failed fourth-down attempts. The Wildcats fumbled the ball on the first play from scrimmage on their third possession, and Chandler’s Kyle Hardaway carried the cough-up 20 yards for a 6-0 Lion lead with 2:42 left in the first quarter.
R.J. Farley was successful on the point-after kick, but a failed second attempt in the third quarter would eventually come back to haunt the Lions. Chandler led 7-0 at halftime, but extended that lead to 13-0 with Rich’s 19-yard TD toss to Matt James in final seconds of the third quarter.
Farley’s extra-point attempt was low, slamming into the mass of bodies at the line of scrimmage.
A dark cloud remained over the Wildcats’ heads a little longer, but Bethel’s seemingly dormant presence faded into an about-face just in the nick of time. On their second possession of the fourth quarter, the Wildcats chewed up four minutes and 74 yards and capped the scoring drive with quarterback Clint Duncan’s 5-yard pass to Jaycee Dismuke.
Justin Vermillion added the extra point, and Bethel’s good fortune grew as — on Chandler’s ensuing possession — Rich was ruled down while fielding a low snap for a punt deep in Lion territory. The Wildcats needed just two plays to span the 13-yard gap, and it was all done with Vermillion’s feet. From 6 yards out, he crossed the goal line at the two-minute mark and added his second PAT of the night to effect the eventual final.
The Lions touched the ball twice more, but never advanced beyond their own 35-yard line.
“What a game,” said Bethel head coach Eddie Paul. “We had so many breaks go the other way early; it took away our momentum and really put us in ‘poor execution’ mode.
“But the kids came alive. We got a little momentum and they just fed off of that energy.”
Duncan ended the night with 71 passing yards on an 8-of-17 effort. A big chunk of those yards — 52 of them — were accumulated on Bethel’s first scoring drive.
Dismuke was Bethel’s leading receiver with 44 yards on four catches. Duncan posted 23 rushing yards on 13 attempts, while teammate Stephen Bedwell ended the night with 32 yards on seven rushes.
Vermillion came away with 40 yards on 11 attempts.
The Wildcats garnered a total of 113 rushing yards, and Chandler grabbed 184. Blake Barrier bore the brunt of that with 69 yards on 15 carries, and Rich added 33 yards on 13 runs. Aaron Fox rushed for 52 yards, all in the second half, on seven carries, and teammate Jorge Mares contributed 29 yards on 11 rushes for the Lions.
Through the skies, Rich was successful on four of 11 tosses for 47 yards and the one touchdown to James.
Chandler finishes the regular season at Little Axe on Nov. 5. Bethel will host Bristow the same night.
Better to heat up late than not at all.
Bethel did just that Friday night in a vital come-from-behind 14-13 District 3A-4 win over Chandler’s Lions. The Wildcats were down 13-0 after three quarters, but scored twice in 2 minutes and 11 seconds to advance their district tally to 3-2.
This keeps the Wildcats’ postseason hopes chugging right along, and all but assures that the Lions (1-8, 1-4) are eliminated from the playoff hunt.
In a tale of “give and don’t take,” both teams combined for seven fumbles, an interception and six turnovers on downs. Bethel lost all three of its fumbles, including two in the opening minutes and one that was returned for a first-quarter Lion touchdown.
Chandler dropped the ball four times on the night and managed to corral only one of the slip-ups. Chandler quarterback Chance Rich was stuck with the pilfered pass that shut down a late attempt at a takeover, and the Lions turned the ball over five times on failed fourth-down conversion attempts.
“We just kept making mistakes and shooting ourselves in the foot,” Chandler head coach Neal Bacon said. “We just couldn’t finish them off.”
Both offenses struggled early on, but the initial momentum belonged to the hosts. The Lions went three-and-out to start the game, and traded fumbles resulted in a Bethel three-and-out and then the first of Chandler’s failed fourth-down attempts. The Wildcats fumbled the ball on the first play from scrimmage on their third possession, and Chandler’s Kyle Hardaway carried the cough-up 20 yards for a 6-0 Lion lead with 2:42 left in the first quarter.
R.J. Farley was successful on the point-after kick, but a failed second attempt in the third quarter would eventually come back to haunt the Lions. Chandler led 7-0 at halftime, but extended that lead to 13-0 with Rich’s 19-yard TD toss to Matt James in final seconds of the third quarter.
Farley’s extra-point attempt was low, slamming into the mass of bodies at the line of scrimmage.
A dark cloud remained over the Wildcats’ heads a little longer, but Bethel’s seemingly dormant presence faded into an about-face just in the nick of time. On their second possession of the fourth quarter, the Wildcats chewed up four minutes and 74 yards and capped the scoring drive with quarterback Clint Duncan’s 5-yard pass to Jaycee Dismuke.
Justin Vermillion added the extra point, and Bethel’s good fortune grew as — on Chandler’s ensuing possession — Rich was ruled down while fielding a low snap for a punt deep in Lion territory. The Wildcats needed just two plays to span the 13-yard gap, and it was all done with Vermillion’s feet. From 6 yards out, he crossed the goal line at the two-minute mark and added his second PAT of the night to effect the eventual final.
The Lions touched the ball twice more, but never advanced beyond their own 35-yard line.
“What a game,” said Bethel head coach Eddie Paul. “We had so many breaks go the other way early; it took away our momentum and really put us in ‘poor execution’ mode.
“But the kids came alive. We got a little momentum and they just fed off of that energy.”
Duncan ended the night with 71 passing yards on an 8-of-17 effort. A big chunk of those yards — 52 of them — were accumulated on Bethel’s first scoring drive.
Dismuke was Bethel’s leading receiver with 44 yards on four catches. Duncan posted 23 rushing yards on 13 attempts, while teammate Stephen Bedwell ended the night with 32 yards on seven rushes.
Vermillion came away with 40 yards on 11 attempts.
The Wildcats garnered a total of 113 rushing yards, and Chandler grabbed 184. Blake Barrier bore the brunt of that with 69 yards on 15 carries, and Rich added 33 yards on 13 runs. Aaron Fox rushed for 52 yards, all in the second half, on seven carries, and teammate Jorge Mares contributed 29 yards on 11 rushes for the Lions.
Through the skies, Rich was successful on four of 11 tosses for 47 yards and the one touchdown to James.
Chandler finishes the regular season at Little Axe on Nov. 5. Bethel will host Bristow the same night.
