NEW GLARUS - Belleville-Albany came within one yard of tying the score with 18 seconds to play Thursday. But New Glarus-Monticello's defense came up with the biggest play of the game to preserve the lead and a playoff spot with a 14-12 Capitol South Conference football victory.
The stakes were high. The winner Thursday was headed for the postseason, and the loser was headed home. And until the fourth quarter, the game was scoreless.
Trailing 14-6 with 2:01 left to play, the Wildcats drove from their own 20-yard line, utilizing the skills of quarterback Ryan Hendrickson and wide receiver Jeremy McDermott. Short passes and the sideline were Belleville-Albany's best friend.
As fans from both sides encouraged their teams to either score or come up with a defensive play, the Wildcats took the ball to the New Glarus-Monticello 9-yard line with about a minute left in the game. Three plays later, the Wildcats found themselves on the 1-yard line on fourth down with 25 seconds to go and the clock ticking down.
Hendrickson kept the ball and scored to bring the Wildcats to within two points.
A missed extra-point earlier in the quarter forced the Wildcats to go for a two-point conversion. McDermott took a pitch from Hendrickson to the left and was tackled hard just shy of the goal line.
The New Glarus-Monticello fans erupted in celebration.
It was premature.
Belleville-Albany recovered the onside kick at its 45-yard line and Glarner Knights' fans sat on the edge of their seats for three more plays as Hendrickson tried to move his team down the field.
Three incomplete passes later, the Glarner Knights found themselves headed for the playoffs, while the Wildcats could only look at the clock and wish for one more play, one more quarter and one more chance.
"We have to give credit to (Belleville-Albany)," New Glarus-Monticello coach Jeff Eichelkraut said. "Both teams put out a great effort tonight."
For most of the first half, neither team was able to move the ball. The teams had to contend with the knowledge that a mistake could end their season. They also had to battle rain, which at times was heavy, and a cold wind that made it difficult to pass the ball.
Midway through the second quarter, the Wildcats finally established their running game. Brendon Campbell repeatedly battered the left side of the defensive line to move the ball from the Belleville-Albany 25 to the New Glarus-Monticello 8-yard line. But the Glarner Knights' defense came up with a big stop to force a failed field goal attempt.
With the score still tied 0-0 after three quarters Campbell, who led all rushers with 131 yards on 25 carries, took the ball around the end and ran for 46 yards to the end zone to draw first blood in the contest.
The momentum was on Belleville-Albany's side, but it didn't stay there for long as Tory Boley brought the ensuing kickoff back to the Wildcats' 25-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Ryan Bright hit a wide open Boley for a 22-yard touchdown.
Bright was a little surprised to see his teammate wide open on the left side of the field.
"I saw he was wide open and I just wanted to make sure I got him the ball," Bright said.
Logan Lockard's kick gave New Glarus-Monticello a 7-6 lead.
With 8:23 left, the Glarner Knights began a drive on their own 30. Three plays later, Matt Felt took off around the left side of his line for 63 yards to the Wildcats' 8-yard line. Bright connected with Cameron Jeglum on a touchdown pass from five yards out on third-and-goal.
Lockard's kick made it an eight-point game, and set the stage for an exciting finish both schools will talk about for a long time.
The stakes were high. The winner Thursday was headed for the postseason, and the loser was headed home. And until the fourth quarter, the game was scoreless.
Trailing 14-6 with 2:01 left to play, the Wildcats drove from their own 20-yard line, utilizing the skills of quarterback Ryan Hendrickson and wide receiver Jeremy McDermott. Short passes and the sideline were Belleville-Albany's best friend.
As fans from both sides encouraged their teams to either score or come up with a defensive play, the Wildcats took the ball to the New Glarus-Monticello 9-yard line with about a minute left in the game. Three plays later, the Wildcats found themselves on the 1-yard line on fourth down with 25 seconds to go and the clock ticking down.
Hendrickson kept the ball and scored to bring the Wildcats to within two points.
A missed extra-point earlier in the quarter forced the Wildcats to go for a two-point conversion. McDermott took a pitch from Hendrickson to the left and was tackled hard just shy of the goal line.
The New Glarus-Monticello fans erupted in celebration.
It was premature.
Belleville-Albany recovered the onside kick at its 45-yard line and Glarner Knights' fans sat on the edge of their seats for three more plays as Hendrickson tried to move his team down the field.
Three incomplete passes later, the Glarner Knights found themselves headed for the playoffs, while the Wildcats could only look at the clock and wish for one more play, one more quarter and one more chance.
"We have to give credit to (Belleville-Albany)," New Glarus-Monticello coach Jeff Eichelkraut said. "Both teams put out a great effort tonight."
For most of the first half, neither team was able to move the ball. The teams had to contend with the knowledge that a mistake could end their season. They also had to battle rain, which at times was heavy, and a cold wind that made it difficult to pass the ball.
Midway through the second quarter, the Wildcats finally established their running game. Brendon Campbell repeatedly battered the left side of the defensive line to move the ball from the Belleville-Albany 25 to the New Glarus-Monticello 8-yard line. But the Glarner Knights' defense came up with a big stop to force a failed field goal attempt.
With the score still tied 0-0 after three quarters Campbell, who led all rushers with 131 yards on 25 carries, took the ball around the end and ran for 46 yards to the end zone to draw first blood in the contest.
The momentum was on Belleville-Albany's side, but it didn't stay there for long as Tory Boley brought the ensuing kickoff back to the Wildcats' 25-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Ryan Bright hit a wide open Boley for a 22-yard touchdown.
Bright was a little surprised to see his teammate wide open on the left side of the field.
"I saw he was wide open and I just wanted to make sure I got him the ball," Bright said.
Logan Lockard's kick gave New Glarus-Monticello a 7-6 lead.
With 8:23 left, the Glarner Knights began a drive on their own 30. Three plays later, Matt Felt took off around the left side of his line for 63 yards to the Wildcats' 8-yard line. Bright connected with Cameron Jeglum on a touchdown pass from five yards out on third-and-goal.
Lockard's kick made it an eight-point game, and set the stage for an exciting finish both schools will talk about for a long time.
