Tigers Claw To 27-20 Win Over Canes...
9-0 Regular Season On The Line In Upcoming Playoffs
Tuesday October 31, 2006
By Mike Cameron
After a scoreless first quarter featuring some of the biggest hits of the year from both teams on defense, the Tigers moved to the Hurricane 18 off a pretty pass from J.J. Mackey (3-5 for 78 yards) to Lance Robinson who almost went for a touchdown over the middle. Poor footing slowed him down inside the twenty before Hartford defenders caught up. Then the Tigers stalled. Mackey kicked a 4th down field goal that split the sticks and penetrated deep into the end zone. The Tigers were up 3-0 but not for long.
Hartford quickly unleashed one of their favorite weapons in running back Jacob VanRyswyk and methodically slogged away at the tough Tiger defense pushing to the Tigers 8-yard line. Peter Lynch (23-carries for 167 yards and 2-TDs), rumbled in for the score and put the Canes up 6-3. The point-after kick was blocked by Ben Almquist as he dove out prone and stuffed the ball.
After a Tiger punt...Hartford got it going again. Using their quick huddle offense they moved to the Tiger 35 as time ticked away in the half. Tiger, Tyler McNally made a monster play sacking Cane quarterback Eric Newton killing the first half clock and drive. It was 6-3 Hartford at the half.
With the Canes needing to punt from their own end early in the third quarter, Robbie Harrison launched himself at he punter, blocked the kick, short hopped the loose ball and was off to the races before Cane defenders caught him at the Hartford 19. On the next play Lance Robinson took a deep pitch from Mackey and threw a nice touch pass to Travis Betourney over a Cane defender for a TD. Mackey converted again and the Tigers were up 10-6 at the end of the third quarter.
The stage was set for a fast and furious forth.
Both teams were hitting as hard as it gets on every play. No one would give an inch without punishment.
The Tigers would stun Hartford when Mackey whirled to hand off then straightened up and threw a perfect pass to Almquist right in the middle of the Cane secondary. Almquist raced 30+ yards but was caught at the Cane 25. Mackey again got a great read and after two dive plays, straightened again and threw a nice soft pass to Sean Harrison who ran under the post for a touchdown. The kick was good. The Tigers pulled away 17-6, but the Canes had plenty of wind left in their sails.
On the ensuing kickoff the Hartford wedge was solid and VanRyswyk broke off the wedge at the Hartford 30 and sprinted to the Tiger 33 before he was finally swarmed by Middlebury. Lawson made a big stop for the Tigers and Robinson left the game with what appeared to be a hip pointer he later left the field by ambulance. Ethan Raymond was also on the sidelines in street clothes after suffering a similar injury in the first half.
The Canes had the ball with a big 4th and goal at the Tiger 7 and a misdirection play caught the Tigers flat-footed, allowing Peter Lynch to race through a big hole to pay dirt and back into the game. Tigers 17, Canes 12.
The Canes went to an onside kick but an alert Robbie Harrison covered it and the Tigers are set at mid-field. Mackey moved them to the Cane 14-yard line where they stalled.
Mackey then hammered a 34-yard field goal and the Tigers were on top 20-12.
The Canes answered quickly with some more lightning of their own as VanRyswyk took the next kick off deep in his own end, broke off the wedge and was tearing down the sideline for a touchdown. Chad Foley refused to quit and ran him down at the 3-yard line. Hartford scored on a blast by Lynch and ran for the extra point by Lynch to tie the score 20-20 with 1:42 left in the game.
Mackey then engineered the Tigers most important drive of the year. With smooth passes to Foley and Almquist, the Tigers were in business at the Cane 11. Almquist then took a hand off and veered to his left jumped over a defender and plowed to the Cane 1-yard line. On the next play he knifed in for the score and the point after was good off Mackey’s kick.
The scoreboard read Tigers 27, Canes 20, with only 1:21 left in the game.
Hartford took the next kickoff to their 35 and ran 3 plays before time expired ending the game with their team pressing at midfield.
The Tigers win this one 27-20 and end a perfect 9-0 season. The Canes are waiting in the wings for next weeks play off game in Middlebury. Where both will go at it again. It should be a dandy!
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