LANDON FOOTBALL 19 StA 13 in overtime

When a team plays an opponent for the 84^th time, there is bound to be a deep seeded rivalry. That past season’s games, this year’s record, talent, potential, injuries and all of the predictors of outcomes are irrelevant. The fact that the home team is also recognizing 14 seniors does not alter the balance. Today’s competition exemplified competition with two blocked kicks, goal line stands and high levels of energy. In such a game, fates/omens/augurs or good/bad luck seemed to intervene more than once.

The end result was the visitors’ earning an overtime victory, but as with previous commentaries, the opponents really should hold (and did hold) their heads erect as they walked off the home field.  The scoreboard read Bears 19 Bulldogs 13.

The game started inauspiciously (#1) when the StA quarterback took the snap in a pistol formation, faked the ball to one of his running backs and turned right end for a 76 yard touchdown. The augurs were seen, although not contemporaneously apparent, when the Bulldog PAT missed @11:38 Bulldogs 6 Bears 0.

Landon received the kickoff and after gaining a first down, the Bears fumbled, setting to StA only 40 yards from a second score. The visitors’ D stiffened and forced the home team to try a 41 yard field goal, which was unsuccessful (omen #2?).

Once again with the ball the Bears moved the ball 34 yards on 7 plays, the last being a 4^th down rush which the Bulldogs stopped. The Bears forced their opponents to punt after 3 plays and took possession 93 yards from a score. Nineteen plays moved the clock into the 2^nd quarter and to the Bulldogs 25; a fourth down run was short again—the Bulldogs D bent, but did not break.

The home team seemed shaken in their confidence—their first down was an incomplete pass; second down was a fumble which the StA runner recovered; and on third down, the Bulldog QB looked right and did not see, Bear soph Keith Simms come from his blind side to cause the StA captain to fumble.

Landon 1^st and ten on the StA 17 yard line. A Colton Rupp run set up a Dominique Seagears one yard TD run. Jacob Howard put his team ahead with a PAT to make it BEARS 7 BULLDOGS 6 @ 3:08

Both teams had the ball before halftime was whistled. On StA’s second opportunity to score they tried a pass with seconds remaining. The good news is that Johari Johnson intercepted the pass and had a long return which fell short of a score; the bad news was that the Bears’ starting right guard and linebacker, Paul Padalino, was injured.

HALFTIME BEARS 7 BULLDOGS 6

The second half started as forebodingly as did the initial quarter. Landon received the kick, started at its own 10 yard line and was forced to punt after three plays. StA got the ball 30 yards from its goal line and covered that distance in 3 plays. Their PAT was good to make it BULLDOGS 13 BEARS 7 @ 9:03

Landon again started at its own 10 yard line, drove the ball 23 yards through 10 plays, but punted. The Saint Albans’ offense continued its difficulties with the Landon D. Seven plays included 3 runs and 3 incomplete passes (one was a pass knock down by Keith). A home team punt pushed the Bears back to their own 21, but three successive runs moved the ball into the other half of the field. That effort was blunted when  the Bulldogs regained possession with an interception.

StA took over with momentum, but that advantage was negated by successive plays in which Jules Desroches combined with Keith for a TFL and then an incomplete pass caused by the big paw of the Bears #30. The clock moved to the last quarter during that series and then the home team punted.

Setting up 74 yardsfrom a score,the Bears drove down the field in 11 plays, all on the ground. Johari, Colton, Dominique and Kyle Hartman shared the ball with the latter player pushing the ball over from the two yard line. The aforementioned augurs reappeared again and the Landon PAT failed. The Bears did not gain an advantage. At 4:17 of the 4^th Q, BEARS 13 BULLDOGS 13

Such moments frequently incite the team, favored by the outcome, to move with alacrity and the StA team did. The home team took the ball and gained 63 yards in13 plays. Eventually,  the Bulldogs had a 1^st and 10 on the 11 yard line, but were not able to move the last yard. So with 0:12.5 remaining, the Bulldogs tried a close in field goal. Many Bears seemed to interdict themselves between the ball and the Field Goal Uprights. Omen #4—the kick was blocked,

END OF REGULATION TIME BEARS 13 BULLDOGS 13

OVERTIME– Landon won the choice of first on offense or defense and decided to give StA the ball. An incomplete pass, no gain on a run and a pass which Luke Kurtz knocked down forced the home team to try another field goal (42 yards away)—.

Now the Bears had their chance with the ball. Three runs set up a critical 4^th and one; the StA defensive jumped offsides. Another run set up a 2^nd and four on the five yard line. Senior Dominique sprinted around right end to bring the game to a joyous end for the Bears

FIRST and FINAL OVERTIME BEARS 19 BULLDOGS 13

Fans from both sides cheered the effort of the two teams.

Landon finished its season at 4-5, but the underclassmen got a lot of opportunity to play, for example, all of the offensive linemen are members of the Classes of ’15 and ’16. The 17 members of the senior class contributed to the team; however, thirteen of them were unable to play in one or more games plus six of last year’s returning senior starters  were unable to suit up for many of the games. Great effort and incredible heart from all of the boys!

LANDON STATISTICS

PASSING

#	ATTEMPTS	COMPLETIONS	YARDS	TDs
Hartman	6	2	17

RUNNERS

#	RUSHES	YARDS	TDs
Rupp	26	144
Johnson	17	100
Seagears	6	56	2
Hartman	9	5	1
Hunter	2	14

SCORING

#	TDs	PATs
Seagears	2
Hartman	1
Howard	1