Gaspari Leads Black River To 13-7 Victory In Overtime Against Wellington

STORY WRITTEN BY TYLER HATCHER

Wellington, OH – Seth Gaspari, with 20 carries for 182 yards, led Black River to a 13-7 overtime victory vs. Wellington.

On the first Black River drive, Gaspari would only be used twice, but he would score on a 26-yard run to make it 7-0 Pirates. The Pirates would give Wellington a fight on their next drive, taking the ball nearly into the red zone before junior Dozier Hendershort got the ball hit from behind into the hands of Wellington’s Manny Mitchel. The Dukes would take advantage of the Pirate turnover, thanks to two big passes from senior QB Landon Wright, the first pass to junior Alex Frenk and the second, a 45-yard TD pass to fellow senior Johnnie Kinter to make it 7-7.

The teams would exchange possessions before Pirates QB Zane Bungard broke through the Dukes’ defense for a 60-yard gain. The Wellington defense would then commit a roughing of the passer penalty on a play that would have been an interception for the Dukes. The Pirates were given first and goal as a result of the penalty. Manny Mitchel of Wellington, however, would not let the Pirates score, intercepting Bungard two plays later.

The Dukes offense was unable to get anything going and punted the ball back to Black River. Again, the Pirates’ offense would move the ball down the field. Gaspari would have 39 rushing yards on the drive and Bungard would add 11 yards on the ground. Unfortunately for the Pirates, Gaspari would have his one low of the night when the Pirates tried a trick play as he threw an interception to Wellington’s DB, Alex Frenk.

In the 2nd half, Gaspari would run for 24 yards on the Pirates’ first play of the half. The Pirates would have 11 more plays this drive, all runs with Gaspari, Hendershot, and Bungard taking turns, but would result in a turnover on downs. The teams would exchange bad snaps and penalties for the next few possessions until a big punt for the Pirates would place the Dukes’ at their own six-yard line. This did not faze the senior duo of Wright and Kinter, as they would connect on a 75-yard pitch and catch on the first play after that punt. After a false start and minimal gains, the Dukes would send out kicker Alex Frenk, whose kick would miss wide left.

Neither team would get any more traction in regulation time, leading to free football in Wellington.

After getting the ball first, the Pirates would hand it to their workhorse Seth Gaspari to get them 15 yards before Bungard would run it in from 5 yards out. On the point after attempt, a bevy of Dukes were able to get over the Pirates line, affecting the PAT and causing it to go wide left.

Needing a touchdown to win, Wright would throw the ball to Sipos-Sutton for five yards before senior Connor Stevens would get 10 yards, leaving the Dukes just 5 yards away with first and goal. After back-to-back, no-gain runs by Stevens, Wellington would put the ball in their quarterback’s hands. Wright would finish the game with nine completions for 181 yards. Unfortunately for the Dukes, his final completion would be on his first overtime pass. Wright would throw back-to-back incompletions on third and fourth downs, including a fourth and goal pass that Will Siopos-Sutton could not hold on to right around the goal line, as the emotion from each side would come out in all its glory.

Player Of The Game

Black River: Senior RB/DB Seth Gaspari: Gaspari entered the game rushing for 144 yards on the season, he would go for over that in this game alone, rushing for 182 yards on 20 carries. He would also have a reception for 14 yards.