Meadville Tribune

Local Sports

October 31, 2009

Devils pull out triple-OT win

October 31, 2009 — CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS — Spa coach Walt Nottingham asked his players: “Six or three points?”

By a unanimous vote, the Blue Devils — without hesitation — answered back, “Six.”

By agreeing with his players, Nottingham & Co. are now making a strong case for the District 10 playoffs.

Instead of attempting a field goal for a possible tie, Nottingham called junior running back Corey Dunton’s number and the Spa standout found the end zone from one yard out as the Blue Devils knocked off Iroquois, 27-24 in a Region 2 triple-overtime thriller Friday night at Baird Field.

With the emotional win, the Spa (6-3, 5-2) took over third place solely in Region 2 — one game ahead of the Braves. Mercyhurst Prep currently leads with a 7-0 record and Union City is second with a 7-1 mark.

“I am extremely proud of my players ... it was a big win,” said Nottingham. “It was a great game, both teams battled to the end.”

In the third overtime, Iroquois had the ball first, but the Braves failed to gain any yards as fullback Kevin Eyerly was stopped for no gain on first down and quarterback Alex Tombaugh threw two incompletions.

Decision time for Iroquois coach Gerard Drozdowski: the Braves’ boss opted for the field goal. Jimmy Henry’s 26-yarder barely made it over the crossbar.

On the Spa’s ensuing possession, quarterback Stephen Kargol — fighting off three would-be tacklers — gained five yards around the right end on first down. On third-and-five, junior running back Jay Felton took a pitch from Kargol and gained four yards.

Now, the coaching roles were reversed: decision time for Nottinghm. He called his players to the sideline and they had an intense chit-chat.

“I asked them what they wanted to do ... six or three points. All of the players said six and I agreed.”

Busting off right tackle, Dunton plowed into the end zone with the game-winning touchdown.

The end of a classic game.

The game started off somewhat shaky for the Spa.

Fueled by running back Parrish Brown’s 16- and 21-yard runs, Iroquois marched 58 yards on only six plays on its first possession to take a 7-0 lead as Jake Szoszorek bulldozed in from one yard out.

Nottingham then made a few defensive changes and the Braves’ running game wasn’t as effective the remainder of the game.

After two unsuccessful drives, Cambridge Springs got its offense going on its third series as the Blue Devils drove 59 yards on 12 plays to tie Iroquois, 7-7 with 8:41 remaining in the first half.

Kargol was the driving force — completing two passes for 24 yards and setting up Felton’s eight-yard touchdown run with a 15-yard scamper on third-and-nine.

A la in the first half, Iroquois found paydirt on its first series in the second half. Concluding a 74-yard, 11-play drive, Szoszorek went off right tackle for a one-yard touchdown run.

Dunton lifted the Blue Devils’ spirits within seconds.

On the ensuing kickoff, Dunton scooted down the right sideline and scored on an 81-yard kickoff return to tie the Braves, 14-14.

Dunton found the end zone again — in the third overtime.

Text Only
Local Sports
  • GIRLS BASKETBALL: Indians notch win despite shooting, rebounding woes

    CONNEAUTVILLE — Many believe strange things happen when there’s a full moon in the sky. Perhaps they happen even a few days later.
    Conneaut Valley shot under 24 percent from the field and was out-rebounded 32-20 on Thursday night. But the Indians found a way as they wrapped up at least a share of the Region 3 girls basketball title with a 36-23 win over Cochranton.

    February 10, 2012

  • WRESTLING: Close decisions push Bears past Blue Devils

    CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS — Non-region wrestling foes Union City and Cambridge Springs seemed to want to savor nearly every second of their respective regular season finales.
    Going head-to-head Thursday night, eight of the 12 contested bouts went the distance; seven of them were won by decision; and five of those seven were decided by two points or less.

    February 10, 2012

  • Maplewood could be getting a Little Gridders program

    It’s still in the early stages, but Maplewood football could be welcoming a new team into its community come August.

    February 8, 2012

  • Lady Scots roar back vs. Knights

    Edinboro had trailed just once at halftime heading into Wednesday night’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference women’s basketball showdown with Gannon.

    February 8, 2012

  • Lancers roll through MASH wrestlers

    It was the Meadville seniors’ party, but they were the only ones that really got to enjoy it, as the Bulldogs’ two 12th-graders were MASH’s only winners on the mat during a 56-15 loss to a talented General McLane squad on Wednesday at the House of Thrills.

    February 8, 2012

  • Farell beats Meadville

    The Meadville boys basketball team hits the road on Friday, traveling to Grove City.

    February 7, 2012

  • Panthers earn huge win

    ne of the perks of playing boys basketball in Region 4 is that what you do during the first month and a half of the season can, if you’re lucky, be forgotten. It’s those games within the region that matter the most.

    February 7, 2012

  • MASH swimming falls to Lakers

    The Meadville swim team faced one of its last big challenges of the season against Mercyhurst Prep at the Meadville Recreation Complex on Monday and, early on, both the boys and the girls were up to the challenge. After the diving break, however, the Lakers put the meet away.

    February 6, 2012

  • Meadville downs rival Prep

    Facing its private-school rival from up north, the Meadville Bulldogs hockey team put together one of its best performances of the season, sending Cathedral Prep back to Erie with a 4-1 defeat on Monday at the DeArment Ice Arena.

    February 6, 2012

  • D-10 CLASS AA DUALS: Bison win title, snap Reynolds’ streak of seven straight

    EDINBORO — As if it was destiny, wrestling powerhouses Fort LeBoeuf and Reynolds met in the District 10 Class AA Team Dual final on Saturday at Edinboro University’s McComb Fieldhouse.
    After Fort LeBoeuf earned a paper-thin 28-27 win over Reynolds on Jan. 21 that came down to the tiebreaker, the Bison once again came out on top. The Bison made up for last year’s loss to the Raiders in the final by earning a 31-28 victory on Saturday.

    February 5, 2012

Business Marquee
AP Video
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate' Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal $25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Poll

Mitt Romney has surged to major campaign wins in recent weeks. If he is the GOP candidate for president:

The Democrats are in trouble; he’s overcoming tough challenges now and learning from them
He will have no chance against incumbent Barack Obama
It’s too early to tell, but Romney would probably be in trouble
It’s too early to tell, but Romney should have a good chance against Obama
     View Results
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
Stocks