ST. MARYS – Van Wert quarterback Brylen Parker found himself with a chance to tie Friday night’s WBL contest with under a minute remaining but found himself swarmed just before the goal line at Grand Lake Health Field on a two-point conversion attempt that sealed host St. Marys 21-19 victory.
Trailing 21-13 with 2:21 to go, the Cougars marched from their own 20 to deep in Roughrider territory. Parker set up his own two yard scamper with a downfield heave against heavy pressure on the previous play into the waiting arms of senior wideout Connor Campbell.
After the unsuccessful conversion attempt the Cougars were relegated to an onside kick attempt but watched as a bounce off the turf was hauled in by St. Marys to signal the end of the comeback attempt.
“Our players battled hard and will continue to do so for the rest of the season,” said Van Wert head coach Keith Recker after his teams potential comeback was thwarted.
St. Marys opened the scoring with 2:20 remaining in the first quarter as they capped off a 63-yard, 11 play drive that accounted for nearly five minutes when Carter Steinberg rushed in for his first touchdown of the season. Logan Rush’s ensuing extra point put the Riders on top 7-0.
Van Wert’s quick strike offense capitalized on the short field their defense provided with a stop on a fourth down attempt to tie the contest 7-7 on a plunge from a yard out by Keldyn Bill and a Griffin McCracken extra point with 8:47 to go in the half.
Led by rusher Dominik Osborne the Riders jumped back into the lead with 3:39 to go before the half on a 75-yard drive over 5:02 on a nine yard sprint from Noah Dixon. Unfortunately for St. Marys their extra point was missed to keep the score 13-7.
Continuing to face heavy pressure the Cougars next chance to score from inside the redzone ended with a jump ball thrown by Parker was intercepted by St. Marys’ Jacob Kessler in the endzone just before the half.
Van Wert’s first two possessions of the second half ended in the same fashion thanks to interceptions by Carter Steinberg and Jacob Kessler for the third and fourth takeaways of the evening by St. Marys.
“Our defense is getting better, they’re young. Coach Nick Yahl had a great plan and he puts his heart and soul into the defense. I was happy to see we were getting turnovers” exclaimed Roughrider coach Bo Frye.
Leading 13-7 near the end of the third quarter the Riders ripped a page out of the Cougars playbook thanks to Osborne who scampered through traffic 74 yards before finishing the drive on the next play with a three yard score for his first of the season.
Choosing to go for the two points to give themselves a 14 point cushion the Riders turned to Steinberg to throw the ball and watched as he connected to a wide open Noah Dixon for a 21-7 lead.
Parker and Bill kept the Cougars clawing away at the lead through the final 12 minutes of play, moving the chains before Parker surged ahead from two yards out each time for a score. Attempting to get within seven in the middle of the fourth the Cougars suffered a similar fate as their opponent as an extra point attempt sailed wide left and was declared no good.
Dominik Osborne, expected to provide a large contribution with the unavailability of Kevin Perry and leading rusher Colton Mabry produced for head coach Bo Frye as he ended with 206 yards and a score on a career high 30 carries.
“Osborne is a veteran who had to shoulder the load tonight. We’re proud of him” said Frye.
Van Wert who hung 70 on the Roughriders last season with over 500 yards of total offense was held to just 93 through the air but outgained St. Marys overall 325-273 despite being outrushed 273-233.
Parker led the way for the Cougars (3-3, 2-3) with 133 yards and a pair of scores on the ground to go along with his 8/19 and four interception performance through the air. Keldyn Bill ended with 99 yards on 20 totes and a score.
“We went down 14 in the third quarter and our guys kept their composure, played well defensively, and had two drives for scores to give ourselves a chance to tie the game,” said Recker whose team will host 0-6 Ottawa Glandorf next weekend.
St. Marys improves to 2-4 overall and 2-3 in the Western Buckeye League with the win and will play host to 0-6 Shawnee to kick off the homecoming festivities next Friday evening.
“Overall we’re getting better and have been for weeks which is a testament to our kids, culture, and our coaches” finished Frye.