MORAVIA – Moravia kicker Declan De Jong booted a 24-yard field goal as time expired to pull out a 57-55 win over Montezuma on Friday evening, Sept. 1.
It was the district opener for both teams.
The defeat by the seventh-ranked Class 8 Braves will shine a whole different light on the district race. Plainly, just one game in, it’s up for grabs.
The football was airborne, too in a game that offenses ruled.
Moravia led 26-19 at halftime, and pushed its margin to 40-19 with 5:35 left in the third quarter.
Montezuma needed something to change momentum, and appeared to get it with a great interception and 14-yard return by Garrett Watts.
Watts had just scored a touchdown on a long pass play from quarterback Brady Boulton to cut Montezuma’s deficit to 14 points.
After Watts’ pick, Boulton threw a short touchdown pass to Cruz De Jong to get Montezuma within 7 points.
Then Boulton recovered an onside squib kickoff by Watts. Moments later, Boulton threw 35 yards to Watts, and it was 40-40 with 38 seconds left in the third quarter.
In the fourth, Montezuma took the lead twice.
The first came at 47-46 with 6:47 left in the game, on a short Boulton throw to David Rose, with Max Anderson’s PAT kick providing the lead.
The Braves again tried a squib kick, but Moravia jumped on it and got to start on Montezuma’s 30. The Mohawks scored and converted a two-point attempt to lead 54-47 with 3:35 left.
A Boulton to Rose pass got the ball out to Montezuma’s 35 and started another Braves drive.
The Braves faced fourth down on Moravia’s 9-yard line, but Boulton passed for a touchdown from there to tight end Alex Black.
Trailing by one, the Braves went for a two-pointer, and Boulton threaded a needle to Black again, to give Montezuma its second lead of the game, at 55-54, with 1:26 left to play.
Moravia got the kickoff out to midfield, then fought the clock and the defense as the Mohawks neared the goal.
Moravia faced fourth-and-six from Montezuma’s 20, but converted with 38 seconds left.
The Mohawks were at Montezuma’s six-yard line with 2.1 seconds left, then kicked the game-winner.
Both teams are 2-1 on the season, but Moravia is 1-0 – to Montezuma’s 0-1 – in the distict.
The teams combined for 900 passing and rushing yards. The stars were out for both teams on offense, but long kickoffs by De Jong helped gain important field position for the Mohawks.
Sophomore quarterback Brady Boulton had a “night” for the Braves and so did senior receiver Garrett Watts.
Boulton through the air was 24-for-33 for 338 yards, 8 touchdowns, and no interceptions. His 8 touchdown passes went to 5 different receivers. He also led the Braves in rushing with 14 carries for 88 yards.
Watts caught 10 passes for 161 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also led the Braves with 10.5 tackles and the interception.
For Moravia, 6-2, 220-pound quarterback Shane Helmick was 8-for-11 for 125 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also rushed 22 times for 119 yards and 3 scores.
Running back Jackson McDaniel (5-7, 150) was a difference-maker with 121 yards on 21 rushes.
Then there was De Jong, a field position maestro, who in addition to kicking the winning field goal, kicked off 9 times for 363 yards (a 40.3 average), including one touchback.
COME BACK LATER – when we’ll have quotes from Braves Coach John Beck, and photos.
Score by quarters
Montezuma 13 6 21 15 – 55
Moravia 14 12 14 17 – 57