Thursday - August 26: Returning to Toronto for the second year in a row the WHS Tiger Football Team brought home a win in last night's 2010 season opener. It was a hard earned win after looking like it was going to be a long night in the opening quarter.
Wellsville won the toss of the coin and elected to receive the opening kick-off to start the game. It was three plays & a punt on the first drive of the night. The punt was a touch back. The Red Knights took over at their own 20 and went the distance to put the first score up with 4:02 left in the 1st. The kick for the P-A-T fell short & it was Toronto 6 nothing. That was the only scoring until the 3rd quarter.
At the 8:05 mark the Red Knights fumbled the ball at the Wellsville four yard line in the 3rd but Wellsville couldn't hold onto the ball themselves. Toronto recovered a Tiger fumble at the 6:10 mark in the 3rd and ran it back 30 yards for their second trip across the goal line. A run attempt for the P-A-T was stopped short. Toronto 12 zip. However, Wellsville never gave up.
With 3:18 left in the 3rd, Senior Chad Elliott took a low pass from Junior Quarterback Jake Reed at the Toronto 30 and raced down the left sideline to get Wellsville on the score board. Not to be denied, he was escorted into the end zone by a host of red jerseys. The Tigers tried for two on a run play but failed to get it across the line.
That took the game late into the 4th quarter with Toronto holding a slim 12 - 6 lead. With less than a minute left in the game Senior Joe Hall went airborne to block a Toronto punt, grab it off the ground and high tailed it 35 yards into the end zone to tie the game with only 57 seconds left. That heads up defensive play stopped half of the Wellsville fans heading for the exits in their tracks. The Orange & Black made them forget about beating the traffic. The Tigers had a chance to pull this one out.
Coach Skinner elected to try a kick for the extra point and Freshman Cavan LeMasters nailed it, kicking the ball dead center through the goal posts. With less than a minute in the game the young man put Wellsville ahead for the first time all night.
Toronto got the ball back on the following kick-off but Junior Joe Dowling intercepted a Toronto pass to drive the stake into the Red Knight heart. After burning up their last two time outs the guys from down the river were left with no choice but to watch the clock wind down with Wellsville taking the knee to end the game. The final score was Wellsville 13 - Toronto 12.
We had a feeling it was going to be a heckuva game and said as much yesterday. This team proved us right. We think Coach Skinner said it best when he was quoted in the morning papers saying "WOW!" He told the reporters they haven't even practiced punt blocking yet. We saw some great team play on both sides of the line. Toronto has nothing to hang their heads about. Somewhere I read that Joe Hall said he's wearing Mat's number 58 this year, referring to the late Mathugh Johnston. Mat would have been a senior this year and football was his passion in life. Wonder if Mat gave Joe an assist in "skying" to block that punt, hmmmm?
Congratulations Tigers! You made all of Wellsville proud and we're sure Mat is smiling down on this year's Orange & Black. Next up is the Bulldogs of East Palestine at home Friday, September 3 at 7:30. Nobody said it was going to get easy but we know you can do it.
ole nib
2 comments:
Mat definitely had a hand that game! Joe has 2 angels on his shoulder. His Dad and Mat. Look for a tribute to Mat at the home games along the fence as well as a small MJ on all the teams helmets! Mat loved football and all of his friends loved him!
WHY TO GO TIGERS YOU PLAYED WITH HEART AND DETERMINATION AND DID NOT GIVE UP THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF A GREAT SEASON NOW ITS TIME TO TAME THE BULLDOGS LETS GO TIGERS
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