By Brandon Jones
Running Sports Coordinator
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Penn’s Steven Depositar scores to give Penn an early lead.
Photo by Brian Drumm, Triple Play Photo |
INDIANAPOLIS
â??? With just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter of its
annual battle against Class 5A second-ranked Ben Davis, it appeared
that fellow 5A perennial powerhouse Penn would be in for a long night,
and an even longer drive back up U.S. 31 to Mishawaka.
Ben Davis running back LaVarus Williams had just plunged in for his
second touchdown of the evening (to go along with one receiving TD
earlier), and the host Giants appeared well on their way to closing the
door on their third-ranked rival from Northern Indiana.
And why not?The Giants had just scored 29 consecutive points to take
a monstrous 29-7 lead and, with just over 14 minutes of football to be
played, one had to think this one was in the bag. Right?
(The yearâ??s first Lee Corso alert!) Not so fast, my friend!
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The Giants had built that lead by taking advantage of four Kingsmen
turnovers that resulted in great field position, allowing Ben Davis to
break open a 7-7 halftime tie in a big way.
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Penn’s Jason Wright (19) leaves
a rooster tail of that ground-up tire stuff that lurks beneath Field Turf as he is dragged toward paydirt by Williams. Photo by Brian Drumm, Triple Play Photo |
First,
Pennâ??s Steve Depositar fumbled on the Kingsmenâ??s third play from
scrimmage in the second half. Ben Davis took over on the Penn 46-yard
line, and Giants junior quarterback MarQueis Gray juked his way through
the Kingsmen defense two plays later en route to a 54-yard touchdown
romp.
Four thousand of the more than 7,000 fans in attendance were on
their feet, and the place with the new green-and-purple Field Turf was
rocking.
After forcing a punt on Pennâ??s next possession, Ben Davis went back
to work, capping off a six-play, 68-yard drive with another long score.
Williams caught a Gray pass over the middle, split two defenders and
found paydirt from 37 yards out.
All the momentum was now on the side of the purple-clad Giants, who
now led 21-7 and were not yet finished with their third-period
pyrotechnic performance.
Another fumble by the Kingsmen â??? this one from running back Brady
Iams â??? allowed Ben Davis to set up shop at the Penn 16. Fullback
Cahmelan Porter surged into the end zone from four yards out four plays
later, and after a two-point conversion it was now 29-7 with 1:28
remaining in the third.
That was the final straw for the coaches from Warren Central, who
apparently had seen enough. First-year head man Steve Tutsie and his
assistants exited stage left, and many of the Kingsmen faithful could
not have been far behind.
But that is why they play the games, folks.
Pennâ??s offense, which had dropped 61 points on Valparaiso the week
prior, went to work, finally showing some flashes of brilliance.
The passing attack was the means of offense as quarterback Nick Keim
found his favorite target, wide receiver Caleb Laidig, on a 14-yard
scoring strike 34 seconds into the final stanza. That capped off a
five-play, 69-yard drive for the visitors, and these two were just
getting warmed up.
After forcing a Giant punt, Penn once again went to work. Two big
receptions (one by Laidig, the other by tight end Joey Hardman) put the
Kingsmen on the Giantsâ?? 20 with just over seven minutes remaining.
Keim then found another one of his favorite targets in 6â??4â? senior
Brandon Miller, who scored on a 21-yard slant pass over the middle as
he burned two Giant would-be tacklers. Matt Stines converted another
extra-point kick, and the Kingsmen now trailed just 29-21 with 6:27 to
go.
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Penn QB Nick Keim unloads a pass under pressure from a
Ben Davis defender during the Kingsmen’s furious rally. Photo by Brian Drumm, Triple Play Photo |
All
the momentum now rode with the â??Gold Rush,â? and the Penn defense
responded in kind. After surrendering a first down, Penn stopped Ben
Davis on its own 42, at which point the Ben Davis punting unit took the
field â?¦ and self-destructed.
The ball was snapped over the punterâ??s head and, though he did
manage to avoid it being blocked, it went off the side of his foot for
a net punt of one yard. Penn took over, and what else would you expect?
The first play was a 16-yard reception by Laidig on a beautiful
touch pass by Keim. After a four-yard scramble by Keim, a questionable
pass interference call then put Penn on the BD 12. A halfback draw by
Iams resulted in a 12-yard touchdown, and Pennâ??s side of the field
absolutely erupted.
Penn trailed 29-27 and had to make a two-point conversion for its
miraculous fourth-quarter run to mean anything. The subsequent corner
fade to the 6â??5â? Laidig fell into the seniorâ??s hands as he reached over
a Giant cornerback some eight inches shorter.
The game was now tied with just over one minute remaining, and Ben
Davis came out like a wounded dog, sitting on the clock and settling
for overtime.
Penn got its chance first, and the Kingsmen went backwards. Iams
lost three yards on the first play from scrimmage, and that was
followed by two incomplete passes from Keim. The three-and-out
possession forced a 30-yard field goal attempt by Stines from the left
hash mark, who drained it for Pennâ??s first lead since Depositarâ??s
four-yard run got Penn on the board early in the first quarter.
But the late lead would not last long. After an illegal procedure
penalty, the Giants began backed up to the Penn 15. On the next play,
Porter busted nearly untouched up the middle for the game-winning
touchdown.
â??He told me, ‘Coach, give me the ball on the first play and I’m going to score,â?? â? said Ben Davis coach Tom Allen.
Final score: Ben Davis 35, Penn 32. Instant classic.
Gray led the Giantsâ?? rushing attack with 95 yards on 15 carries,
with Porter adding another 65 on 10 totes. Williams caught three passes
for 65 yards. For Penn, Keim ended up 15 of 22 for 186 yards and one
interception, while Laidig grabbed six balls for 72 yards.
If these two teams are fortunate enough to make it to the RCA Dome
come Thanksgiving, think the encore will be talked about much?
So what do you think? Share your thoughts in our Football forum.
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