Montezuma’s 64-62 win over Baxter was one of those games fans will be talking about 30 years from now.
The Braves’ Owen Cook booted a 28-yard field goal as time ran out to secure the victory. But just a bit earlier, things didn’t look so good for the Braves.
Montezuma Coach John Beck takes us through the final two minutes and 10 seconds:
“The end of the game was crazy, to say the least,” Beck said. Trailing 62-61, “We end up throwing a pick with around 2:10 left,” said the coach.
“Our defense got a negative yardage play and (we) stopped the clock with a timeout with 2:06 remaining. We were able to hold for the next two plays to force a punt,” he said.
“After a muff and a lucky bounce back into our hands on the punt return, we took over with about 25 seconds remaining in the game around the opponent’s 36-yard line.”
“Owen Cook hit Garrett Watts on an intermediate pattern and Watts broke a tackle to get down to the 15-yard line,” Beck said.
“We spiked the ball on the next play to stop the clock. We called a pass play next but we got some pressure and Owen was sacked with around 12 seconds on the clock.”
“The guys hustle back to the line of scrimmage and we were able to spike the ball with 2 seconds left. This set up Cook for the game-winner!” Beck said.
“Crazy. . .chaotic. . . but a perfect ending for us,” said Montezuma’s coach. “It really was a battle between two good football teams that both left everything on the field.”
“It was one of those games where you knew it was going to come down to the wire. The boys persevered throughout the night. I saw great leadership and we saw some guys step up big!”
“Offensively we did a really good job of moving the ball through the air and were effective enough in the run game to keep them honest,” Beck said.
“Owen (Cook) had some really good connections with his receivers. He has grown so much throughout the year and continues to get better each week.”
Beck said Cook “had a couple of throws he would like to have back but for the most part he was exceptional.”
“Our receivers continue to improve and all continue to step up,” he said.
“We had great plays out of Masin Shearer, Garrett Watts, Cruz De Jong and Brett Plants,” Beck said. “They continue to do a great job of going to get the ball and then making things happen after the catch.”
“Brett (Plants) Broox Stockman and Owen ran hard all night and made some very good decisions with cuts and reads,” said Montezuma’s coach.
“Our offensive line played very well. I thought they pulled with a purpose all night and did a real good job with the pass blocking.”
“Defensively we made the big plays when we needed them. Our defensive linemen played very well and did a good job containing Baxter’s very elusive quarterback,” Beck said.
“We rotated 5 guys in with Tod Geiger, Kennen Roadcap, Landon Morrison, Marty Knox and Briar Simpson,” said the coach. “All of them had some great moments.”
“Landon’s interception on a screen pass was really a momentum-turner because we went down and scored before the half and took the lead,” Beck said.
“Our linebackers Brett, Brady Ogan and Broox, flowed really well and made some big plays for us.”
“Our secondary had some very big plays breaking up passes and helping in the run game,” Beck said. “Owen, Brady Boulton and Carter Michalek all had huge moments in the game.”
Woodward Academy
So now, it’s one regular season game left before entering post-season play. That will be Friday night at Badger-Gabriel Field.
Woodward Academy will bring in an 0-7 record. Their closest approach to any team was a 36-14 loss to Twin Cedars.
The team hasn’t filed statistical reports all season. Woodward Academy usually features a fair amount of speed.
Woodward Academy was low on numbers last year and forfeited to the Braves.