Colonels edge Stars in OT to advance in playoffs
By Watson Cook
It took overtime Friday night but the Colonels found a way to edge
the Winona Christian Stars 13-7 in the first round of the AA playoffs. The win
marked the first playoff victory at Legion Field since 1982. In a game
that proved why you play on the field and not on a stat sheet, Winona Christian
bottled up one of the state’s better rushing attacks and forced the Colonels to
find another way to win the game. Colonel quarterback Jonathan Holland answered
the call.
Scoreless at halftime, the Colonels received the second half
kickoff and started from their own 32. Eight plays later, Holland found
freshman tight end Ben Van Cleve wide open from 21 yards out. Tyler Hill added
the PAT to give IA a 7-0 lead with 8:48 to play in the third quarter.
Following the kickoff, the Stars began their first series of the
second half at their own 11. Managing only 6 yards on the drive, Winona Chr.
was forced to punt. A short kick gave the Colonels possession at the Star 43. A
promising drive that looked to add to the IA lead was cut short by an Ashton
Knight fumble at the 12 yard line. The Stars recovered and ended the threat.
After an exchange of punts and another Colonel fumble, the Stars
took over at the IA 24 with 8:53 to play in the fourth quarter. On 4th and 4 from the 18, Brooks Lott
connected with Bailey Lott in the back of the endzone. Tyler Ballard’s PAT
knotted the game at 7-7 with 7:30 to play.
Still tied at the end of regulation, the game headed to overtime.
The Colonels had the first offensive series in the overtime period. Staring at
3rd and goal from the
10, Holland hit Wheeler Timbs with a fade pass in the left corner of the
endzone to put IA up 13-7. Hill’s PAT was just wide left, leaving the door open
for the Stars.
Winona Christian pounded Stuart Dickerson straight up the middle,
as they had all night, on 1st and
2nd down. On 3rd and goal from the 3, what appeared to
be a botched handoff left Brooks Lott dropped for a loss back to the 5. With
the game on the line, the Stars turned to Bailey Lott who was swarmed by blue
shirts and brought down at the 1, setting off a wild celebration as the Colonels escaped with the 6-point victory.
With the win, #4 IA will host #5 Leake Academy at Legion Field on
Friday, November 8 at 7:00. The winner will advance to the AA semifinals. Leake
Academy dominated Riverfield Academy 35-0 to move on to round two.
