Football Rallies for Win in Three Overtime Thriller
Oct 22, 2016
STORM LAKE, Iowa - Saturday afternoon, the Spartans dug a deep hole in the scoring column of the first quarter down 17-0, but rallied to beat the Buena Vista University Beavers in a triple overtime thriller 45-37.
The host Beavers opened with a five play 74 yard drive taking just 1:57 to open the scoring 7-0 after UD opened with a six play 46 yard drive before turning the ball over on a fourth down and six yards to go on an incomplete pass. The Beaver defense held the Spartans to three plays before punting on fourth down. BV jumped out to 14-0 lead after an eight play 75 yard drive capped off by a 13 yard touchdown pass with 6:09 left of the opening quarter. The Spartans next drive would end on their lone interception on the afternoon and spotting the ball at UD's 33 yard line. The Spartans defense would hold BV to a 35 yard goal, trailing 0-17.
UD began chipping away at the lead in the next series when Dwayne Allen Jr. on a first and 10 broke through and scampered 52 yards for the touchdown, his longest run of the season. Just 43 seconds remained in the first quarter with UD trailing 7-17.
The Spartans stopped the Beavers offense to begin the second quarter and held them to just 22 yards in seven plays before a punt to the Spartans 18 yard line. A 12 play 82 yard drive would finish on a two yard touchdown by Allen Jr. and cut the lead 14-17. The drive was aided by a Beaver pass interference call which left the Spartans on the BVU two yard line after the call. BV would hold the 17-14 halftime lead and would receive the ball in the second half. The two teams would trade touchdowns in the third quarter. BV scored at 5:35 of the third after a 98 yard drive using 19 plays and 9:18 on the clock. UD met the challenge on a 31 yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Jenkins from Conor Feckley at 3:20 using up just 2:08 to drive 69 yards for the strike, 21-24.
UD gained their first lead of the afternoon on a one play 63 yard TD to Najee Toomer from Feckley at 10:55 of the fourth quarter, 28-24. The Beavers scored on a 23 yard passing touchdown with 6:44 left to re-capture the lead 31-28. UD tied the game up 31-31 with just eight seconds remaining in the game on a 35 yard field goal by Brayden Neuendorf. Time would run out in regulation with the two teams knotted at 31-31.
In the first overtime, the Beavers won the coin toss and elected to play defense. UD would be held to a 38 yard field goal by Neuendorf. The Beavers would next make their overtime opportunity. The Spartan defense stopped them at the 12 yard line and BV would knot the game on a 28 yard field goal, 34-34.
In the second overtime period, BV would score on a 40 yard field goal 37-34. UD was held to a field goal as well, this time a 27 yard attempt from Neuendorf, who split the uprights to knot the game once again 37-37.
UD would start the third overtime and took the lead for the final time on a 11 yard touchdown grab by Dylan Schultz. As required in the third overtime, teams must go for a two point conversion after a touchdown. Feckley would find the hothand in Schultz for the two point conversion extending UD lead to 45-37. BV started the drive on a incomplete pass. A BV rush for four yards, moved the ball to the UD 21 yard line. A completed BV pass moved the ball six yards closer. A rush for no gain on the 1st an 10 at the 15 yard line would push the Spartans defense to step up. UD's Derek Trotter would make the game ending play after intercepting the endzone pass for a touchback. UD found a way to win their seventh game of the season (7-1 overall, and improved to 5-1 in IIAC).
Allen finished the day with 18 rushes for 85 yards. Quarterback Feckley completed 24-41 passing attempts for 358 yards and three touchdowns. Najee Toomer ended the day as the leading receiver with 12 catches for 201 yards. The two teams would finish with similar totals for total offense. UD led with 489 yards while the host Beavers ended with 454 yards.
Connor O'Malley punted four times for 172 yards for an average of 43 yards per kick. Neuendorf kicked off six times for 341 yards (56.8 yds a kickoff). Defensively Trotter would lead the Spartans with 13 tackles. Le'Devin Smith finished with 12 tackles inlcuding one pass break-up. Logan Benter, Doug Gates, Joseph McMahon, William Hudson, and Tyler Womack would combine for five tackles for losses of 17 yards.
UD will host the Wartburg College Knights on Senior Day next week on Chalmers Field in the Spartans final home regular season contest at 1:00 p.m. The Knights lost to Central 37-51 and they fall to 4-3 overall and 3-2 in the IIAC.
