BELLEVILLE - With three and a half minutes to play Wisconsin Heights needed to move the ball 86 yards to erase a 19-14 deficit against Belleville-Albany Friday.
The Vanguards completed a couple of passes, picked up a pass interference penalty and got to the Wildcats' 46 yard line with just over a minute to play.
The Wildcats responded with an interception at their own 25-yard line with 1:04 to play in the game, sealing the win and giving them their second conference victory of the season.
Despite dominating the Vanguards in the first half the Wildcats trailed 7-6 going into halftime.
"We had about 150 yards rushing in the first half and held them to about 25," Wildcats coach Jeff Minter said. "We knew we were able to move the ball against them and we knew we were able to stop them."
Fumbles, penalties and missed tackles helped Wisconsin Heights throughout the first half and kept the ball in Belleville-Albany territory for most of the first quarter.
The Wildcats' defense responded to the challenge of trying to keep the Vanguards out of the end zone.
"Our defense stepped up for us tonight," Minter said. "We have to give them a lot of credit."
Minter told his team they needed to hold onto the ball and avoid mistakes in the second half if they wanted to come away with a homecoming victory. His halftime pep talk must have been effective.
The Wildcats' Jeremy McDermott took the opening kickoff of the second half on the Vanguards 14-yard line. Quarterback Ryan Hendrickson put the Wildcats ahead 12-7 with a 2-yard run to the end zone.
The Vanguards looked ready to answer the Wildcats' touchdown and used solid runs and accurate passes to move the ball from their own 43 to within the shadows of the Wildcats' goal line.
Wisconsin Heights fumbled to end the threat.
In the third quarter, McDermott made his presence felt with a 26-yard run to the end zone. The extra point made it 19-7.
Before Belleville-Albany celebrated, Wisconsin Heights cut the Wildcat's lead to five points.
Belleville-Albany is 2-0 in conference and 2-4 overall. The Wildcats travel to Marshall next Friday.
The Vanguards completed a couple of passes, picked up a pass interference penalty and got to the Wildcats' 46 yard line with just over a minute to play.
The Wildcats responded with an interception at their own 25-yard line with 1:04 to play in the game, sealing the win and giving them their second conference victory of the season.
Despite dominating the Vanguards in the first half the Wildcats trailed 7-6 going into halftime.
"We had about 150 yards rushing in the first half and held them to about 25," Wildcats coach Jeff Minter said. "We knew we were able to move the ball against them and we knew we were able to stop them."
Fumbles, penalties and missed tackles helped Wisconsin Heights throughout the first half and kept the ball in Belleville-Albany territory for most of the first quarter.
The Wildcats' defense responded to the challenge of trying to keep the Vanguards out of the end zone.
"Our defense stepped up for us tonight," Minter said. "We have to give them a lot of credit."
Minter told his team they needed to hold onto the ball and avoid mistakes in the second half if they wanted to come away with a homecoming victory. His halftime pep talk must have been effective.
The Wildcats' Jeremy McDermott took the opening kickoff of the second half on the Vanguards 14-yard line. Quarterback Ryan Hendrickson put the Wildcats ahead 12-7 with a 2-yard run to the end zone.
The Vanguards looked ready to answer the Wildcats' touchdown and used solid runs and accurate passes to move the ball from their own 43 to within the shadows of the Wildcats' goal line.
Wisconsin Heights fumbled to end the threat.
In the third quarter, McDermott made his presence felt with a 26-yard run to the end zone. The extra point made it 19-7.
Before Belleville-Albany celebrated, Wisconsin Heights cut the Wildcat's lead to five points.
Belleville-Albany is 2-0 in conference and 2-4 overall. The Wildcats travel to Marshall next Friday.
