Oct 8, 2022

Game of the Year?

When two teams with legitimate chances to make the final game of year meet on the field it can be a great experience but can also result in a less-than-stellar competition. Such was not the case Friday evening as #1 came up to #4!

Davies got the chance to strike first and they did not squander the opportunity. Following a 77-yard kickoff return by Grant Tschosik, Mason Klabo handed the ball off a few times, with Oliver Lucht finishing the drive in the end zone.

If the tone hadn't yet been set Michael Rostberg finding Vucuzi Hakim for a 60-yard gain on their first play solidified that it was going to be a night full of highlights! Rostberg ended their 57-second possession with his first run of the night to knot the score at 7.

Davies didn't need even that much time to add to their side of the scoreboard as Klabo ran for a touchdown with just 26 ticks going off.

The frenetic pace took a pause when Shanley got the ball back, with a mix of runs and passes to the 21 yard line. From there Rostberg connected with Sam Ovsak who muscled his way to the pylon to make it 14 all. Davies also opted to slow up a bit but didn't need all 5:28 that was left also score again, this time from Klabo to Nicholas Hasbargen. 36 points in a quarter is bordering on the absurd but Shanley wasn't done as Kaden Christmann took the kickoff 85 yards to tie the game again!

That still left time for two or three more scores but with the sun went the warmth & that level of offensive explosiveness. A fumble by Davies started the second quarter, who got it back a few plays later via an interception, which resulted in the first punt of the night.

Coach Mattern went into his bag of tricks on the first play with a half-back pass by Sam Ovsak, which Hakim took all the way into the end zone, 74 yards. Following a second Davies punt Shanley put together another sustained drive, overcoming several penalties to get to the 13. With time winding down Jack Bullinger got to Rostberg for a sack which forced them to go for the end zone. It wouldn't happen often on the basketball court but Klabo was in coverage against Conner Kraft and got the better of the forward near the goal-line for a pick, the last meaningful play of the half.

With the lead & the ball the Deacons didn't let that memory hamper them when play resumed. Rostberg operated the offense from the 28 to the opposite 40 when Adam Leininger got his highlight of the night to make it a two-score game.

Davies followed with a four and out but got the ball back a play later as it hit the turf. With a short field they wouldn't have had to do much to get some free points but Klabo wasn't going to settle for three as he made runs for a touchdown & to the 2 that were negated by penalties. Luke Lorenz got some of the yardage back but then it was a couple more keepers to cut the deficit to seven points with better than a quarter remaining.

The D1 quarterback wasn't about to let it stay that close as five of the seven plays in the next chance went through the air, finished by Rostberg going in himself. They tacked on a two-point pass to Conner Kraft to make up for a missed PAT in the second quarter and extend their advantage, 42 - 28 just inside the fourth quarter.

Davies managed another response, with Lorenz making a house call prior to the seven minute mark to keep victory possible.

Each team would finish the game adding some more yardage to their totals but successive turnovers on downs kept the score from changing again.

Shanley 42, Davies 35

Game of the year is subjective but you would be hard-pressed to find a contest on any of the four levels, anywhere in our great state better this one from start to finish. A rematch in the second season would be must-see!