By Jim Hunter
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.
