Two-minute drill heroics fail to pay off for Scotus

COLUMBUS - Twenty-nine yards and four points.

That's all that separated Scotus Central Catholic (2-1) from staying undefeated at homecoming Friday night against Boone Central.

But on a second and one, with less than 20 second left to play, those yards and points were nearly wiped away before the Shamrocks hopes were smashed. Scotus quarterback Lucas Backman stepped up in the pocket and threw a towering fade pass to the left side of the end zone. At first the pass looked like it could be caught by one of two Shamrocks receivers, but Cardinals defensive back Jordan Temme stepped up and picked it off as it fell from the night sky.

One kneel down later it was over, with Boone Central (2-1) taking the game 27-23.

The game was nearly saved by the Shamrocks with big plays in the two-minute drill and an onside kick. Down 27-17 with 53 seconds left on the Cardinals four, Backman kept the ball and scooted in for six, looking to bring his team within three. Boone Central engineered a big rush up the middle on the extra point, however, and easily blocked the Chase Beiermann kick .

Down by four, the Shamrocks lined up for an onside kick, and Beiermann, instead of kicking to an overloaded left side, dribbled the ball down the right, where only one lone Shamrock was posted. That player, Pat McKay, charged downfield as the ball made it through the Boone Central returners and he scooped the ball at the 38-yard-line for a Shamrocks recovery. The play was practiced during the week according to Scotus head coach Roger Krienke.

“The goal was to kick away from them,” Krienke said. “It was well-executed and it gave us a chance there at the end.”

Beierman said Krienke called the play right before he ran out to kick after a Boone Central time out.

“We just called something right before and it worked out,” Beiermann said.

Unfortunately for the Shamrocks, the offense couldn't quite execute as cleanly, and Boone Central took the win.

The final drive ending with an interception wasn't the worst moment of the game for the Shamrocks, however. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Boone Central quarterback and Telegram Super Senior Kraig Flanagan found Temme in the end zone for a score, but Scotus defensive back Kirby Reardon charged the play and, while attempting to break up the pass, landed awkwardly against Temme's leg. Reardon stayed where he was, unmoving, for the better part of the next 10 minutes as EMTs worked on him. They brought out a stretcher, back board and neck brace before carrying Reardon to a waiting ambulance. No information on the injury was available for disclosure immediately following the game.

“I'm going to go up there (to the hospital) right after this to see Kirby,” Krienke said. “He's a great kid.”

Other parts of the contest went better for Scotus. A close first half was mainly controlled by Scotus, who opened up the scoring after Scotus player Shawn Schumacher recovered a Cardinals fumble on the Boone Central 20-yard-line. Backman rolled out, avoiding Cardinals defenders, and found Nick Zarek in the corner of the end zone at the 2:29 mark in the first quarter.

Boone Central didn't waste any time in answering the score, however, as running back Jason Bader took the ball on their first play from scrimmage and scampered 51 yards down the east sideline before being shoved out of bounds. Bader and his fellow running back, Tyson Martin, combined to run up 211 yards on the day. After a few runs got the Cardinals down to the Scotus 1-yard-line, backup Ryan Shotkoski lined up at quarterback and powered in for a touchdown with time to spare in the first quarter.

The teams would then exchange passing touchdowns, with Backman hooking up with Bill Kurtenbach for seven and Flanagan answered with a 13-yard touchdown to Kalvin Zoucha. Scotus, however, hit their extra point attempt, while the Cardinals try was well short.

The final score of the first half came on a 25-yard field goal by Beierman and Scotus went into the half leading 17-13.

Boone Central came out firing in the second half and scored on their first drive on a 9-yard touchdown pass to Zoucha. The pass caught by Temme on the play Reardon was injured made the score 27-17 Cardinals and set up Scotus' final attempts.

“Overall, I was proud of our kids,” Krienke said. “We need to work on some things, though. It's going to be a great week of practice and we're going to get ready for Lakeview.”

Scotus will head across town to face Lakeview next week at 7 p.m. Friday, while Boone Central will be at Central City.

Boone Central (2-1) 7 6 7 7 - 27

Scotus (2-1) 7 10 0 6 - 23

SCORING SUMMARY: S-Backman 17-yard pass to Zarek (Beiermann kick); BC-Shotkoski 1-yard run (Bryce Morgan kick); S-Backman 26-yard pass to Kurtenbach (Beiermann kick); BC-Flanagan 13-yard pass to Zoucha (kick failed); S-Beiermann 25-yard field goal; BC-Flanagan 9-yard pass to Zoucha (Morgan kick); BC-Flanagan 9-yard pass to Temme (Morgan kick); S-Backman 4-yard run (kick failed).

TEAM STATISTICS

Boone Central Scotus

First Downs 18 14

Rushes-Yards 39-236 32-106

Passing Yards 108 129

Passing (Comp-Att-Int) 11-19-1 13-29-2

Return Yards 80 81

Fumbles-Fumbles Lost 3-2 0-0

Punts-Avg. 2-28.5 3-31.3

Penalties-Yards 7-55 6-30

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: BC-Martin 17-111, Bader 13-100; S-Backman 13-63, Beiermann 5-29, Kurtenbach 10-24.

PASSING: BC-Flanagan 11-19-1-108; S-Backman 13-29-2-129.

RECEIVING: BC-Temme 4-33, Zoucha 2-21; S-Zarek 5-44, Beierman 5-36, Novicki 2-23, Kurtenbach 1-26.