by Zachary Harmuth
Father Ryan went wild, and upset the BA Eagles Friday night 24-20, fighting off a near comeback in the fourth quarter.
The Fightin’ Irish (2-1) were big underdogs at home coming into this game against BA (2-1).
Father Ryan forced two turnovers on downs in the fourth quarter, and held off the comeback.
With 4:54 left in the game, BA faced a 4th and 4 at the Irish 32. The Irish were ahead 24-20. Because the Eagles missed the extra point on a Shawn Brashers touchdown early in the fourth quarter, they were forced to go for it. Eagles quarterback Tyler Swafford went back to pass, threw- incomplete; and it was Father Ryan’s football.
But two plays later, FR quarterback Cameron Towns fumbled on a pitch, and Chris Hopkins recovered for the Eagles, giving them a last chance.
Shon Lumpkin tore for 38 yards on the play into Irish territory, and a couple Swafford completions took the Eagles to the Irish 20, 1st and 10. 2:49 left in the game. After a five yard pass, a one-yard run and an incompletion it was 4th and 4, with the game on the line.
Swafford took the snap in the shotgun, stepped back, and saw C.J. Sanders open in the end zone- he threw, and the stands went crazy as the ball bounced just off Sanders’ fingertips and onto the ground.
From there, FR carefully ran out the clock with a few conservative run-plays by the games heroes- Joseph Holzmer (22 carries, 99 yards) and Dekeivis Perry (7 carries, 91 yards). The turtle beat the hare in this one, with Father Ryan possessing the ball 31:10, and BA just 16:50.
“We felt like if we could limit their number of big plays, and move the football, we could win.” FR coach Bruce Lussier said. “And thats just what we did tonight.”
The game was 14-0 at the half.
In the third, BA finally made a few big plays, with quarterback Tyler Swafford finding Tanner Priest for touchdowns of 59 and 87 yards.
In between those scores, however, Luke Strebel made a 44-yard field goal for Father Ryan, making it a 24-14 game to start the fourth quarter.
