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By Pat Cole
pcole@mckenziebanner.com |
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Drew Kelley (#55) holds
the runner-up trophy as the team listens to the
post-game speech by head coach Mike Mansfield. Left to
right are Drew Kelley, Karl Butler (#58), Alex Hamilton
(#83), Gordon Byars (#59), and Coach Jimmy Pritchard.
Visible in foreground are Cody Crocker (#18) and Cale
Belew (#75).Defending State Champions
Huntingdon and Alcoa met on Friday evening to see which
team could be dominant on offense and defense in Class
2A. Throughout the season both had dominated their
opponents on both sides of the ball. The Stangs had only
two losses and the Tornadoes only one. For four quarters
they battled, with Alcoa taking the early lead, the
Mustangs fighting back to lead by the end of the first
half and improving their margin in the early moments of
the second half. In the fourth quarter, the Tornadoes
battled back and took the lead on a field goal and held
on for the victory as the Stangs were ultimately shut
down offensively in the final 12 minutes. It was a game
of big plays and in the end Alcoa had one more big play
than Huntingdon.
Both teams exhibited potent offenses which set new
records in a state championship game. These two teams
scored a combined 60 points in the first half, had the
most yards passing with 625, the most total yards by two
teams with 1,037 and the most total points in a
regulation game with 93. The Stangs exhibited a new part
of their game which can be utilized in 2005, indicated
by the pass play from Chris Donald to Phillip "Boo"
Weathers, one of the prettiest pass receptions in the
game. Although neither Weathers nor Donald were able to
break 100 yards in rushing, they each had more than 100
yards overall with pass receptions included in their
total offensive stats.
The Mustangs won the toss, but elected to defer
offensive possession until the second half. This move
allowed the potent Alcoa offense to a touchdown in the
first three minutes of action. Hastings kicked the ball
48 yards to the Alcoa 12 and Kyrus Lanxter returned the
ball to the Tornado 31 where Hunter Hastings made the
tackle. Dustin Lindsay rushed for six yards with Brandon
Snyder on the stop and quarterback Joei Fiegler
completed a pass to Brandon Warren for 27 yards before
Weathers made the tackle. Lindsey rushed for seven with
Snyder and Weathers on the stop and Logan Love rushed
for 15 yards down to the Huntingdon 29 before Cody Baker
moved in for the tackle. Snyder and Baker held Lindsay
to a yard and two incomplete passes followed. Facing
fourth and nine, the Tornadoes again went to Fiegler,
who found Warren in the end zone for the touchdown at
the 9:13 mark. The PAT by Reed Guzzo never reached the
uprights, but Alcoa had a 6-0 lead.
Scott Hampton received the kickoff and returned the ball
37 yards to the Stangs 41, but there the offense
stumbled, gaining only six total yards on three plays.
Weathers was held to a loss of three and Donald rushed
twice, picking up three yards on each carry. Kelly
punted the ball 31 yards to Richeon Bell who returned
the ball five yards before he was hit by Tony Nellett
and Maurice Williams.
Sophomore Chris Donald
had 99 yards rushing, 55 yards receiving, 69 yards
passing and one touchdown scored with 12 seconds
remaining in the first half. Pictured in Donald being
tackled by Logan Love of the Alcoa Tornadoes.
Lightning struck twice as Fiegler again had the touch.
Beginning at their own 276, Fiegler completed a pass
first to Love for a 12 yard gain with Baker and Kegan
Ball on the stop. However, on first and 10, Fiegler
found Lindsay for a 61 yard completion and the Tornadoes
led 12-0 at the 6:56 mark. Guzzo's second PAT attempt
was good and the Tornadoes had a 13-0 advantage.
The potent Mustang offense kicked in after the second
score. Jerry McClerkin received the kickoff and returned
the ball 18 yards to the Huntingdon 40. Donald picked up
four yards on first down and then quarterback Cody
Crocker passed the ball to Hampton for a 56-yard
completion and a score at the 6:03 mark. Hampton's first
PAT also failed as Alcoa continued to lead 13-6.
Hastings second kickoff went 40 yards to Lanxter for a
seven yard return before Baker made the stop. The
six-play drive was fought by Hampton, Donald, and
Weathers who were credited with the stops and it
appeared that an illegal block penalty assessed against
the Tornadoes which negated a touchdown pass completion
might return possession to the Stangs. Fiegler quickly
found Lindsay and Weathers also caused a fumble, but the
Tornadoes managed to recover at the Stangs one-yard
line. Lindsay then rushed the remaining yard into the
end zone and Guzzo's kick was true, giving Alcoa a 20-6
advantage at the 3:16 mark.
Again the Stangs offensive unit was quick to respond,
moving the ball 69 yards in four plays. McClerkin
received the kick and returned the ball 11 yards, to the
Huntingdon 31. Hampton picked up eight yards, followed
by Desmond Townes, who was held for no gain. Facing
third and two, power runner Donald gained five for the
first down. With the ball at the Huntingdon 44, Weathers
moved left and picked up the touchdown at the 1:11 mark.
The Stangs opted for the two-point conversion and
Crocker took the ball left on the quarterback option for
the additional points as Huntingdon narrowed the lead to
20-14.
Hastings 42-yard kick was returned by Lanxter 20 yards
before Snyder made the tackle. Snyder held Lindsey to a
yard, but a block in the back penalty moved the ball
back to the Alcoa 29. Lindsay picked up another yards
with Cedric Harris on the stop and another penalty for
holding, moving the ball back to the Alcoa 18. Weathers
forced another fumble, but it was recovered by Alcoa as
the first quarter ended. As the second period began,
Fiegler managed to complete a pass to Love for a gain of
20 yards and a first down before McClerkin made the
stop. Hastings held Lindsay to a loss of four and a pass
to Love was good for only two as Donald made the tackle.
A third down pass was incomplete and Fiegler punted for
the first time. A penalty for roughing the kicker was
declined on the 42-yard punt and Huntingdon took over at
its own three-yard line.
The Stangs were quickly tagged for a false start and the
ball moved to the one-yard line. Crocker picked up two
yards on the rush and then found Hampton for a gain of
28 yards on a completion at the Huntingdon 31. At that
point, it was Donald who received the ball from QB
Crocker, but instead of marching downfield, he launched
the ball into the air, hitting Weathers on a beautiful
pass good for 69 yards. It was Weathers who rushed down
the Tornadoes' sideline and never missed a beat as he
looked over his left shoulder, put his hands out and
grasped the ball, completing the run to the end zone on
the 69-yard completion at the 8:23 mark. The Stangs had
tied the game and Hampton's PAT put them up by one,
21-20, seconds later.
Alcoa didn't allow the lead to last long. After Lanxter
returned the ball to the Alcoa 27 where Ball waited for
the tackle, Lindsay was held to a loss of four by Townes
and Baker. Fiegler then found Brian Sommer for a 12-yard
gain and Warren for a gain of seven. McClerkin made the
tackle on Sommer. Cale Belew held Lindsay to a gain of
three and a pass to Lindsay resulted in a first down at
the Huntingdon 10, but another block in the back penalty
returned the ball to the Huntingdon 20. Lindsey quickly
rushed into the end zone at the 6:05 mark and a personal
foul penalty moved the ball 15 yards for the PAT
attempt. Fiegler's option pass attempt failed and Alcoa
now led 26-21.
The Stangs needed momentum going into intermission and
after Weathers returned the kick 30 yards to the
Huntingdon 38, they made their move. Weathers picked up
seven yards and Donald gained 26, putting the ball at
the Alcoa 29. Donald gained a yard, Crocker completed a
seven-yard pass to Townes and with the ball at the Alcoa
21, Donald powered his way for 13 yards and a first down
at the eight. Weathers took the ball quickly into the
end zone for the touchdown at the 2:26 mark and although
the PAT was blocked, Huntingdon had a 27-26 advantage.
The momentum was now on the side of the Stangs, who
continued to dominate defensively for the remainder of
the first half. Brent Taylor held Lanxter at the Alcoa
29 on the kickoff return. Love and Lindsay each picked
up seven-yard gains with Townes and Hampton making the
tackles. Lanxter then gained 15, down to the Huntingdon
42 before Baker made the tackle. Lindsay's pass attempt
on first down however was intercepted by Weathers and
returned 29 yards to the Huntingdon 39.
Once again on offense and with 2:09 remaining, the
Stangs used the time wisely. Crocker was caught
initially for a loss of seven, and Donald picked up only
one yard. After a timeout by Alcoa, Crocker found Donald
for a 55-yard pass completion and the Stangs were at the
Alcoa 12. Weathers picked up three, but the Stangs were
penalized for illegal formation. Crocker completed a
pass to Weathers and the Stangs had moved down to the
Alcoa nine. After a Huntingdon timeout, Crocker passed
incomplete to Donald and Weathers picked up one yard.
Another timeout by the Stangs was followed by the fourth
and eight plays. Donald simply powered his way into the
end zone, refusing to be held as Huntingdon took a 33-26
lead. This time Hampton's kick was true and with only 12
seconds remaining on the clock, Huntingdon led 34-26.
Alcoa managed those last seconds very well. After
downing the short kick at the Alcoa 33, Fiegler passed
to Warren for a gain of nine. A personal foul penalty on
the Stangs placed the ball at the Huntingdon 43 with
three seconds remaining. Although Fiegler managed to
complete a pass to Love for a gain of 25, time and the
tackle by Snyder ended the Tornadoes hope for a late TD
and intermission began with a comfortable Huntingdon
lead.
The third quarter began with the Stangs on offense and
they made good use of the opportunity. Hampton received
the kickoff and returned the ball 25 yards to the
Huntingdon 37. Hampton then picked up four yards,
followed by a seven yard gain by Weathers. Donald gained
two and after an incomplete pass to Weathers from the
50, Crocker tried one more time, found Weathers and he
rushed for the 50-yard touchdown at the 9:57 mark. Again
Hampton's kick was good and the Stangs now led 41-26.
The Huntingdon defense managed to hold on the Tornadoes
first drive. Love completed a yard before Hastings held
and Fiegler completed a pass good for eight before
Hampton made the tackle. Fiegler held for the first
down, fumbled and Marcus Beal recovered for the Stangs
at the Alcoa 42.
Good field position did not help the Stangs on this
possession as the Tornadoes defense stiffened and after
failing to gain a yard on the first two downs, Crocker
fumbled and recovered at the Alcoa 45. Kelley punted the
ball 31 yards to Bell, who found running room for the
86-yard return to the end zone. With 7:04 remaining in
the third period, Alcoa had narrowed the gap to 41-32
and a two-point conversion by Lindsay was good,
narrowing the margin to 41-34.
Weathers returned the kickoff 28 yards to the Huntingdon
35. Hampton was held for a loss of one and Crocker found
J.P. Powell for a gain of seven, but a third down pass
to Townes was incomplete and again Kelly punted the ball
to Lindsay who was quickly stopped by Townes after a
return of only one yard.
Again the Huntingdon defensive unit stiffened. After
Fiegler completed a pass to Lanxter, McClerkin forced a
fumble and Weathers recovered for the Stangs at the
Huntingdon 23.
The Stangs gained only five yards on three plays and
Kelley again punted the ball to Bell who picked up a
six-yard returned before he was stopped by Baker at the
Alcoa 45. This time the Tornadoes made good on their
possession. Fiegler passed to Warren for a 12-yard gain
before McClerkin could make the tackle and a pass to
Lindsay was good for a first down at the Huntingdon 30
before Hastings made the stop. Love rushed for 30 yards
on the next play and scored at the 52 second mark.
Guzzo's kick was off the mark however and Huntingdon
held on to a slim 41-40 advantage.
The Stangs picked up two first downs in the remaining
seconds. After the ball was kicked into the end zone,
the Stangs took over at their own 20. Donald gained
seven, nine and three yards on the first three carries
and Weathers gained two. Crocker's pass to Townes was
incomplete and Donald picked up six of the needed eight
yards as the third quarter came to an end with the
Stangs at the Alcoa 48. Needing two yards, it appeared
the Stangs were going to punt, but after a timeout, they
decided to go for the down and Donald was handed the
ball. He was held short and the Tornadoes took over at
the 50-yard line.
An incomplete pass and good stops by Townes, Hastings
and Ball was followed by a fourth down pass attempt
which was incomplete and the Stangs took over at their
own 42.
The possession was short-lived and ended on the second
play when Crocker was intercepted by Lanxter who
returned the ball 36 yards to the Huntingdon 26 where
Crocker made the tackle. A block in the back penalty
moved the ball back to Alcoa's 29 but the determined
Tornadoes began a sustained drive, lasting over five
minutes.
Thirteen plays later, despite the efforts of Ball,
Snyder, Hastings, Taylor, Baker, Hampton, McClerkin and
Donald, the Tornadoes faced fourth and goal from the
Huntingdon 11. Guzzo, who had not kicked a field goal
throughout the season, came in to attempt a 28-yarder
and succeeded, putting the Tornadoes in the lead, 43-41
at the 5:03 mark.
Alcoa's defensive unit stiffened again and managed to
hold the Stangs. First Crocker was held for a loss of 12
in the end zone at the 3:20 mark and Alcoa's advantage
improved to 45-41. Kelley kicked the ball 39 yards and
although Hastings, McClerkin and Taylor made key stops,
the Tornadoes continued their march to the end zone,
scoring again at the 1:15 mark. The PAT by Guzzo was
good and Alcoa led 52-41.
Although
little time remained, the Stangs came out to take
control at their own 20 after the touchback. Donald was
held to a loss of three and Weathers to a loss of five
as the contest ended.
At the conclusion of the game, Weathers was presented
with the Defensive Player of the Game award, Coach Mike
Mansfield received the runner-up coach's plaque and Drew
Kelley ran out to receive the silver runner-up trophy
which the Stangs proudly displayed for fans, despite
their tears and heartache.
The Stangs overcame obstacles, managed a 12-3 season and
returned to the state championship game to defend the
title they won in 2003. Despite the loss, the 2004
seniors as well as the younger team members will go down
in Mustang history as one of the best Class AA teams in
the state.
