A blocked field goal by Griffin Taliak returned by Franklin Pike for a touchdown gave St. Ignatius a thrilling 33-27 walk off victory over Archbishop Hoban as time expired tonight at Byers Field. Charlie Durkin was already 2 for 2 on the night for Hoban and it looked as though he would have the walk off winner before a stunning turn of events.
The special team’s / defensive touchdown was one of three on the night for St. Ignatius as earlier in the game, Peter Chalhoub had a fumble recover for a touchdown. Then, in the third quarter, it was a pick six from Max Palinski. Infact, on a night where St. Ignatius scored 33 points, they only had one offensive touchdown mixed in with two field goals.
Marty Lenehan was the workhorse for the Wildcats with 70 yards on 16 carries. Joey Pfaff struggled, going 6 of 20 for 76 yards with two interceptions. Pfaff will bounce back however.
For Hoban, star tailback Lamar Sperling racked up 165 yards on 32 carries with a touchdown. He also caught a ball for a 43-yard touchdown in the first quarter to give the Knights and early lead.
It would remain 7-0 Knights until the very first play of the second quarter in which Zeb Eldridge nailed a 39-yard kick to get the Wildcats on the board. On the very next offensive snap, Hoban fumbled the ball and it was picked up by St. Ignatius defender Peter Chalhoub who rumbled in for the 15-yard return touchdown.
St. Ignatius had scored 10 points in 11 seconds flat, to take a 10-7 lead. It would remain that way until the closing seconds of the half when Charlie Durkin blasted a 37-yard Field Goal to tie it at 10 as they went to the half.
The Wildcats got another defensive score to open the second half with a 15-yard pick six from Max Palinski. After a brief Hoban drive, the Wildcats had the ball again and punched it in as Marty Lenehan took off like a rocket for a 40 yard touchdown scamper to make it 24-10 St. Ignatius.
Hoban wasted no time crawling back in it with a touchdown drive the next time they touched the ball. A 4-yard touchdown run by Sperling capped off a long drive that saw quarterback Jayvian Crable connect on a 44 yard strike to Ricky Williams to set up the score. Crable had an up and down night as he went 9 of 21 for 145 yards with a touchdown and interception.
Down 24-17, this time it was Hoban getting a pick six. The interception return for a touchdown was by Caleb Kepler to tie the game at 24 all with limited time remaining in the third quarter. Both kickers would connect on kicks in the fourth to make it 27 all before the thrilling finish.
https://keeonsports.com/north-olmsted-car-drives-through-front-window-of-half-price-books/
Well that was exciting just to read. I can’t imagine what it was like to have watched it! Good stuff!!