Main Sections

Tigers Win Thriller With 28-27 OT Win Over Rutland

photo by Mike Cameron #67 Tri-Captain Jaro Perera #37 Jackson Donahue and #82 Skyeler DevlinWalk off the field in Rutland after Donahue’s extra point kick propelled Middlebury to a 28-27 OT Win.

Tuesday October 3, 2017

By Mike Cameron

Tigers went four and out on their first possession.  Rutland got their first score after a Tiger fumble recovery and Rutland drive from mid-field.  Raider quarterback Jared Miglorie led his team to the Tiger 10 and then slashed off tackle for the score with 4:33 left in the first quarter.  In a omen of things to come later in the game, Noah Crossman's point after kick was blocked by Middlebury's big Jack Deppman.  The Raiders were up 6-0 but not for long.
   On the ensuing kick-off with Rutland purposefully kicking away from Simon Fisher who can fly, kicked instead to Dustin Davio who unknown to the Raiders staff can also fly, advanced the ball to mid-field.  Middlebury was running like a well oiled machine and pounded the rock to the Raider 13-yard line and fumbled at 7:   8 left in the first half.  Rutland went right to their run game with Dakota Peters and Miglorie tearing up through the middle and collecting a first down.  The Tigers gelled and held forcing a short punt off a a bad snap.  The Tigers were in business at mid-field and Lane Sheldrick bulled them to the Rutland 26 and a big 4th down play.  Quarterback Cody Pomainville wanted to hit Fischer on a slant but Miglorie made a good read and intercepted the Tiger signal caller to thwart yet another deep Tiger drive .
   With Rutland hanging on to their 6-0 advantage, the Tiger's Paul Deering entered the fray and started to  run sweeps: they worked.  Middlebury powered to the Rutland 20-yard line off their best blocking of the year against the much bigger Raiders.  Coach Dennis Smith then crossed up the over anxious Raider secondary with a pass play for a touchdown to sure handed Wyatt Cameron from the 7-yard line.  Enter Jack Donahue who has been perfect with points after this year and he booted the Tigers into the lead 7-6 with 8:05 left in the half.  The Raiders came roaring back!
   At the 5:28 mark of the second quarter, Miglorie ran a keeper into the end zone from the 12-yard line and then slashed and stretched in the 2-point conversion to make it 14-7 Rutland.  Now the Tigers came roaring back with some great blocking and gutsy running.  The defense kept the Raiders off the board and the half ended with Rutland up by 7.
   The Tigers were roaring in the second half as were the Raiders and Middlebury tied the game at 14-all with a Pomainville to Skeyler Devlin pass just as the 4th quarter began.  Devlin's snag in the end zone was spectacular and Donahue did his thing again with a booming extra point kick.  That made it 14 all.
   Rutland went right to work and marched the length of the field to score.  Miglorie hit the versatile Dakota Peters over the middle, right on his number thirty three and Rutland went back on top with the point after, 21-14.  the Tigers would not go away and they took their kick off right down the field and at the raider 21, Pomainville ran a keeper right at Rutland, got great blocking and scored.  Donahue split the uprights again and the game was  tied 21-21 with just under 8-minutes left to play.  Fans from both sides were going right out of their skulls.  What a football game.
   Rutland calmly marched down the field after getting the Tiger kick off and were aided by a Tiger penalty of 15-yards.  Rutland punched and prodded with Peters and Miglorie out of the One -Two-Read alignment, used their remaining time out's and arrived at the Tiger with a 4th and 4 at the 15 with 21-seconds left and an opportunity to win it with a 25-yard field goal well within Noah Crossman's range.  The kick hit the right upright of the goal post and ricocheted with a resounding thud and rejected.  Overtime was on after the Tigers ran out regulation with a knee.
   An Amazing Ending!
   Rutland won the overtime coin toss and took the ball at the 10-yardline.  Miglorie ran a keeper and scored on a slant to make it 27-21.  Crossman's point after hit the up-right again!, this time the left upright.  What are the odds of that happening?  Now the Tigers get the ball.  The Tigers ran Paul Deering to the Raider 5-yard line and then he plowed into the end zone for a score on the next play to make it 27-all with sure footed Jackson Donahue waiting in the wings.  Could he end it?  Pomainville got a bullet snap from Jaro Perrara made a clean, smooth, delicate hold under tremendous pressure and    Donahue's kick sailed through the uprights and deep into the west end zone darkness at Alumni Field.
Tigers win one for the ages, with a walk-off extra point, 28-27.  “This was a great win for your program”, the Voice expressed to Coach Smith after the post game team huddle.  “Yes it was,” the coach said calmly.  'Our offense has improved and we now have to get ready for Burr and Burton at home next week.”  The Tigers are now 3-2 on the year and Rutland is 1-4.            

Printer Friendly

Top

Advertisements

Search our Archives