COLUMN
Two-point try offers
twice the excitement
October 26, 2009
By Tommy Kopetskie, NorthRaleighSports.com
Just how exciting was the Leesville Road football team's two-point attempt with 9:35 left in the fourth quarter of Millbrook's 39-23 victory Friday?
So exciting, the teams decided to run the play twice.
It was such a big play, I felt it was necessary to revisit it. So, here are the particulars in case you don't remember, you weren't there or if you are just plan confused. (Don't worry, so were the refs.)
When kicker Jonathan Bowman nailed a 32-yard field goal with just 1:36 left in the third quarter, the Wildcats appeared in complete control of the Pride 25-10. Millbrook was just over 13 minutes always from pulling off a shocker, and notching its biggest victory of the season.
But the lead nearly slipped away soon thereafter.
Leesville senior Thurston Cox busted out a 77-yard touchdown run two plays later, narrowing the gap, 25-17.
Then after the Wildcats' lone turnover, the Pride marched 45 yards on eight plays, with running back/Mack truck Dylan Edwards barreling into the end zone from three yards out.
With less than 10 minutes remaining, down 25-23, it was obvious the Pride would go for the two-point conversion.
And when the Leesville offense bulked up, adding DE Jonathan Diaz and LBs Brad Moody and Brandon Pittman to its lineup, it was apparent the Wildcats were about to get a second dose of Edwards up the middle.
"We saw that heavy set on film, and we knew they wanted to run the ball," Millbrook defensive coordinator Josh Pardue said later.
But Wildcat linebacker Austin Merritt reached the Pride backfield unblocked, hitting Edwards two yards shy of the end zone, and a second later the ball popped loose.
In a scrum for the ball, the pigskin rolled into the end zone and Pride tackle Joey Buccola fell on it. As anyone might do when having the ball in the end zone, Buccola raised his arms in celebration — only the referees whistled the play dead.
Or did they?
The play happened so fast, I missed mostly all of it in "real time." I saw the handoff, the pile-up and Buccola with ball, and that was about it.
On film, at least from my angle, you see about the same.
So what happens? The Wildcats celebrate to their benches, and the referees huddle with obviously stunned Leesville head coach David Green to hear their ruling.
Two minutes later — I wasn't timing it to the second, but it was good amount of time — the referees decided there was an inadvertent whistle and replayed the down.
And they set the ball, and lined it up again.
Essentially, it was a redo. I find it hard to argue with the decision because I saw both sides. And personally, I think letting players handle the outcome was better than the officials making an iffy judgment.
So, Leesville's two-point conversion attempt — Take 2!
The Pride ran out their heavy set again, but Pardue explained the Wildcats weren't looking for the run this time.
"We also saw on film that they have run a little flood route our of that formation as well," he said. "And to our kids were fairly certain what was coming the second time."
Leesville QB Andrew Wolfe faked the handoff to Edwards and targeted Diaz, who raced two yards into the end zone.
But Merritt — remember he made the first stop — swatted the ball midway between Point A and Point B.
There was plenty of time for the Pride to pull out the victory, but the goal-line stop appeared to fuel the Wildcat defense, which created four consecutive turnovers following the goal-line stand, clinching the contest.
In my frantic state to get my story done later that night, and I glazed over the two-point attempt. Plus, the Wildcats handful of great stops Friday night seemingly took some of the spotlight away.
But in retrospect the two-point try tried two times — yes, that's a mouthful — was the moment the Wildcats snatched the victory.
I hate redos because it always seems like a cop-out. But I liked that the Wildcats and Pride decided who won and lost, not an official.
And for that reason I'm glad the two-point conversion had a sequel.
Millbrook linebacker Jacon Shaner (52) made two second-half interceptions to help seal the Wildcats' 39-23 victory over Leesville Road Friday night.
Wildcats find defensive identity
With a few days to digest Friday's outcome, Pardue explained Sunday night in a phone interview that the Wildcats have finally found a sense of who they are.
"Our guys have really grown throughout the year," the assistant coach said. "What I can say about the defense as a whole is it really came together. I feel they have gotten an identity.
What we can do, and what we can't do."
From the interior line play to the Millbrook secondary, guys know what's expected from them, Pardue said.
It starts upfront with defensive ends Marcus Plummer and Matt Aronowitz.
"They did a great job of knowing of what they can and can't do," the coach said. "They know they aren't going to make a lot of tackles, the linebackers will do that. Instead they are playing for the team."
Defensive tackle Greg Gilchrist played a heck of a first half as well, but the senior suffered an elbow injury, which could keep him off the field for sometime, Pardue added.
Millbrook's linebacker corps of Justus Hoffmann, Jacon Shaner and Merritt all have ballhawk skills, and are the strength of the unit.
Besides Merritt's key stops on the two-point try, Shaner made two interceptions Friday, returning one for a touchdown. Hoffmann iced the game with his own pick.
Pardue commended Shaner for seizing the opportunity to score a defensive touchdown. "He did what we practice all the time: taking it back and seeing if we can get a score," the coach said.
Because Hoffmann is the Wildcats' most recognizable defender — he led Millbrook in tackles as just a sophomore last year — he gets a lot of attention, the coach added.
"He's the guy that everyone is going to make sure to block," Pardue said. "Teams have really been focusing on him. In turn, it gives other guys an opportunity to make plays. But you see that throughout the game, he's always around the ball."
Two young defensive backs stepped up for the Wildcats Friday as well as sophomore Michael Weaver and junior John Cervera each recording first-half INTs.
"Those are two young guys there, both playing for their first year up (on varsity) and stepping up in big situations," Pardue said.
The coach credited secondary coach Ralph Robinson for the group's quick development.
But it wasn't all the defense which led to the Pride's seven turnovers.
"It is a tribute to our offense because they were putting points on our board, and putting their offense in a position where they had to throw," Pardue said. "That's a good place for us to be in. Because we know what to expect and can sit back, and not have to worry about the run."
What caught my eye from last Friday
1. 38 unanswered points by Enloe
I expected the Wakefield football team to struggle without defensive tackle Will Butler to lead the way against the run-heavy Enloe squad last week, but after hearing the Wolverines jumped 10-0, I'm surprised they couldn't find a way to keep it closer given their early success.
The game's final score of 38-10 is a bit of a shocker. But playing without the services of Butler, QB Connor Mitch and WR Nigel King was obviously a big blow. Hopefully, the squad can regroup against Broughton in its regular-season finale Thursday night.
But it won't be easy. The Caps defeated Enloe 30-20 Oct. 16 and will have almost two full weeks to prepare for the Wolverines.
Off topic, I like the Thursday night high school football. For anyone who loves to watch football, it gives you a chance to take in two games. Plus, Thursday night has turned into my least favorite night of television, and I'd rather see Moises Ramirez, Denzel Brown and Tripp Foreman in action instead.
2. McFarland back leading the way
Following Millbrook's win over Leesville Road, Wildcat head coach Clarence Inscore commended QB Trey McFarland on his "poise in the pocket." I think the coach nailed it right on the head. The junior completed nine of 11 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns, but more importantly managed the game so well.
I recorded that McFarland took 51 snaps Friday night, and made almost no errors — two incompletions, no interceptions and no fumbles.
After he led the Wildcats over Knightdale in week two, I was already impressed with McFarland. A few bumps and bruises — as well as a concussion — have knocked him off the field this season, but Friday he showed what he and the Wildcats are capable of: special things.
3. Pride toughness
Thursday, the day before Leesville visited Millbrook, Green explained back-up QB Austin Berrios would get the start despite a banged-up shoulder. The Pride coach admitted he'd be surprised if Berrios threw more than five times because of the shoulder's soreness. But the sophomore went there, played a solid first-half and kept the Pride close.
In the second half, with Leesville playing catch-up, Andrew Wolfe (pictured) — the team's fourth quarterback of the season — took the majority of snaps, and he, too, displayed toughness in the pocket. Wolfe might never be mistaken for a runner, but the senior broke a 22-yard run anyway.
While it's been a tough year for Pride quarterbacks, the team's signal-callers haven't backed down an inch.
4. Turnovers doom Spartans
You don't beat many team — especially good teams — when you commit eight turnovers, and the Sanderson football team found that out the hard way against Wake Forest-Rolesville.
In the Spartans' 48-14 loss, Sanderson turned the ball over five times in the Cougars' territory.
After the game head coach Tony Lewis explained, “You take those turnovers away and we played a heck of a football game against a heck of a football team."
This has certainly been a trying year for the 1-7 Spartans, but if they can muster the same effort and energy they had against WF-R, they will defeat Friday's opponent Enloe or Broughton after that. Maybe both. Here's hoping the Spartans end the season on a two-game winning streak.
5. Ravenscroft overcomes, but falls short
While the Ravens might have taken the loss Friday, they fought back from a 14-point deficit and narrowly fell in the closing seconds of their game against Charlotte Christian 21-14. While the defeat might hurt, the perseverance Ravenscroft showed in the third quarter could and should help with the state playoffs right around the corner.
What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, right? Thought so.
Fantasy football tip
Not to brag, but I'm leading my fantasy football league, so I feel I have the resume to dispense a little football knowledge to everyone out there. (Who am I kidding, I'm bringing it up to brag.) But if Minnesota's Sydney Rice is still in your league's waiver wire, you better claim him fast. I jumped on his bandwagon a few weeks back, and the receiver has done nothing but carry me to wins.
Plus, he tallied 20 fantasy points against Pittsburgh Sunday despite getting tackled at the 1-yard line — missing a score — and having another touchdown negated because of a bad call.
Pick him up, but only if you want to crush the competition.
Other guys to watch out for in Week 8? The Jets' Shonn Green again Miami — he is Thomas Jones' main back-up now. Rams' Donnie Avery against Lions — news flash, Detroit is terrible. And anyone playing the Browns. Chicago running back Matt Forte, you should roll this weekend.
By the way, if this section disappears, you can all assume I started losing. But as long as I am winning, I LOVE talking about fantasy football.
Stat of the week
23-0.
Entering Tuesday night's second-round state playoff with Durham Jordan, the Wakefield volleyball team is undefeated through 23 games this season — one of only two 4-A schools in the state to have that honor. (Greenville Rose is the other.) I mention the Lady Wolverines' record because if you enjoy watching Division-I athletes in action, Katie Slay is worth the price of admission.
So go and watch.
Stat of the week II
24, 33, 44 and 66.
That's the length of four of Keith Marshall's 16 carries Friday night against Leesville Road. The Millbrook sophomore tallied 203 total yards on the ground, and has impressed just about everyone who has seen him carry the rock. Enjoy this running back for the next two-plus years because big things are possible.
Best play I saw in person last week
Sanderson's Dylan Ejlali's goal from 30 plus yards out against Broughton last week. It was very nice goal which came at a critical time, tying the game at 1-1. Unfortunately, Sanderson fell 2-1 that night.
Best play I saw in person last week — football edition
Marcus Plummer racing in for the punt block in the fourth quarter against Leesville Road. The defensive end showed remarkable speed closing on the ball. Plus, the play set up an easy 1-yard Hoffmann touchdown run.
Quote of the week
'When he runs down the field, you just think, "Oh my God, he's really good."
— Millbrook senior receiver Michael Thornton talking about teammate Keith Marshall following Friday's 39-23 win over Leesville Road.
Schedule of the week — Cap-7 Conference soccer
If you can't get excited about this week's Cap-7 Conference soccer tournament, you are either a "futbol" hater or just plain lame. Leesville, Millbrook, Sanderson and Wakefield all have legitimate chances to knock off Broughton for the tournament title, so everybody should be watching. The games kick off Monday, click here to see the schedule http://northraleighsports.com/articles/cap102209.html.
Random thought
Umm. Oops.
A Northwest Airlines plane overshot its destination by 150 miles last week.
What explanation could possibly be believable from these two pilots?
They say they were using their laptops in the cockpit — which is a no-no — to handle "monthly flight crew scheduling." Well, that sounds important enough to cruise blindly through the sky.
While experts believe they likely fell asleep, I have a point of contention.
I can never fall asleep in planes, so maybe they should move the pilots back to coach class with me. Right?
E-mail your thoughts to tommy@northraleighsports.com.
