Roughriders win OT thriller

 

ST. MARYS - In typical Wapak versus St. Marys fashion the victor of the game came down to just one big play. 

Facing a fourth down play on their turn in overtime the Redskins needed one big play to go their way just as it did in the waning moments of regulation to possibly keep the contest going. 

Unlike regulation however Wapakoneta was stopped this time around by the Roughrider defense as they would send Redskin QB Trevor Crow crashing to the turf with the football in his possession to secure a 14-7 overtime victory. 

Trailing 7-0 with 7:57 remaining in the fourth quarter and starting with the ball at their own 27 yard line the Redskins marched south into the blue and gold endzone with just 1:16 left on a 12 yard score by Crow. Five plays previous saw the visitors pull off the biggest first down of the game to that point as they converted a 4th and three play on a rush by Connor McDonald to keep the drive alive and give themselves a chance at tying the game. 

Similarly to how the first half of week one went at Bath, the Riders found themselves embroiled in a punting competition with their Auglaize County rivals that kept each team off the scoreboard at the conclusion of the first half of play. 

St. Marys began their second possession of the third quarter at midfield and quickly moved to the Wapak 13 on a 37 yard rush by senior back Dylan Trogdlon to open the drive. On the third play of the drive the Riders cashed in for the first score of the game on a two yard jaunt for Ethan Wedding that was followed by a Brandon Bowers extra point at 6:51 for a 7-0 lead. 

Prior to their first scoring drive the Redskins traveled deep into St. Marys territory but were unsuccessful in converting a fourth down attempt as a rush from the Roughriders led to an incomplete pass thrown by Crow near his teams sideline.

With 1:11 to go in the fourth quarter the hosts moved the ball quickly again thanks to Trogdlon, but this time through the air as he snagged a 25 yard gain from QB Gavin Reineke to move past midfield. 

Brandon Bowers 45 yard field goal attempt from the right hash was blocked with under ten seconds remaining and forced the game into the overtime scenario after a Wapak kneel down.

Sophomore Aiden Hinkle rushed four times of the five plays St. Marys ran in their overtime possession and found himself in from a yard out to secure the only score of the extra frame and a 14-7 lead. On the evening Hinkle led the Riders ground attack with 90 yards on 22 carries and a score, 

Wapak rushed 40 times for 135 yards and was led by Connor McDonald's 62 yards on 18 carries, Trevor Crow scored the only touchdown for the Redskins and finished by connecting on 5 of 13 passes for 47 yards to his receivers. 

The Roughriders out-gained their rivals 260-184 overall and rushed 57 times for 210 yards. 

Next week Wapak (0-2) will battle the Western Buckeye League's highest scoring team Van Wert at Harmon Field while St. Marys (2-0) hosts Ottawa Glandorf on Friday evening at Grand Lake Health Field in St. Marys.