Statesmen Stopped as Time Expires in 20-17 Loss to #11 St. Ambrose
William Penn came up a yard short on the final play of the game against St. Ambrose.
Oskaloosa–The William Penn football team came up one yard short of remaining perfect in Midwest League play with a 20-17 loss to #11 St. Ambrose Saturday.
With only one second on the clock, the tenth-ranked Statesmen (8-2, 4-1 MWL) declined to kick a game-tying field goal, instead going after the victory. Unfortunately, Taylor Parsons (Jr., The Woodlands, Texas, Sociology) was denied the goal line as the final second ticked off the clock.
While the loss will certainly sting for quite some time, the season is not lost as the navy and gold still have the possibility of making the playoffs with a victory next Saturday. A win over Grand View next week (1 p.m. start in Lacey Complex Stadium) would force a three-way tie for the MWL crown. The squad may also need help from the national raters though.
Saturday’s final possession began with 6:36 remaining. The hosts chipped away yards, moving into the red zone in the final minute. On third-down-and goal, Parsons picked up three yards to the SAU two-yard line. The Statesmen took their final timeout to decide the game plan, choosing to go for the win.
“I know that many people will second-guess that call, but this team and staff were playing to win,” Head Coach Todd Hafner said.
Neither team scored on their opening drives, but then the Statesmen got on the board first on their second possession, going 92 yards on 16 plays. Parsons, who rushed for 124 yards, broke the plane from one yard out. The junior also completed three passes for 30 yards.
The Fighting Bees (8-1, 4-1 MWL) answered at the start of the second quarter to knot the contest at 7-7, but another lengthy WPU drive ensued (ten plays, 68 yards). Parsons again capped it off with a four-yard dash.
The visitors eventually tied the game at 14-14 entering halftime. The evenly-matched contest (350-332 SAU edge in yards) witnessed the home team force one of its three turnovers to start the third quarter. The resulting possession stalled inside the red zone, finishing with a 29-yard field goal by Marcus Kerrigan (Jr., Cary, Ill., Sociology) to put WPU back ahead 17-14.
St. Ambrose had the final word, however, scoring for the third time on the day late in the third quarter. A botched snap on the extra point made it 20-17, but left the door open for the Statesmen to tie it with a field goal.
The final stanza was played out without a single point being scored.
Shawn Davis (Jr., Hamersville, Ohio, Physical Education) added 68 rushing yards, while Evan Ressler (So., Cascade, Iowa, Biology) produced 57 yards.
Scott Adams (So., Park City, Utah, Sociology) and Perry King (Jr., Valdosta, Ga., Physical Education) led the defense with nine tackles each. Jacob Batterson (Jr., Eddyville, Iowa, Industrial Technology) intercepted an SAU pass in the third quarter.
“What an outstanding game played by both teams,” Hafner said. “It was a hard-fought battle of two very good teams, and it is a shame one team had to lose. We will regroup starting tomorrow and get ready to win the Rock and Ladder trophy back from Grand View. Thanks to the crowd for coming out and supporting us; it means a lot to our team.”
