Meigs drops heartbreaker to Buckeyes, 30-28

By Dave Harris

Published:

Sunday, September 21, 2008 6:16 PM EDT

BUCHTEL — Derek Arnold scored on a 17 yard screen pass with 52 seconds left in the contest, and chipped in with the extra points to power the Nelson-ville-York Buckeyes to a 30-28 win over Meigs in TVC football action Friday evening at Dave Boston Field.

The Buckeyes had to survive the Marauders comeback attempt however, as Meigs drove to the Buckeye 24-yard line with 10 seconds left. But a controversial interception by Mark Campbell of a Jacob Well pass ended the hopes for Meigs. It appeared that Campbell was out of the back of the end zone, but after a moment of indecision, the official signaled a touchback setting off a wild celebration on the Buckeye side of the field.

It didn’t take long for the fireworks to start, as Arnold took the opening kickoff 85 yards for the score. Arnold added the extra points and just 11 seconds into the contest the Buckeye held a 6-0 lead.

But it didn’t take the Marauders long to answer with a score of their own. With junior quarterback Jacob Well completing three of four passes, the last being a beautiful 36 yard scoring toss to Cameron Bolin for the score. The passes for the extra points were no good, and with just one minute gone in the contest the Buckeyes were up 8-6.

The Marauders took a 12-8 lead into the locker room at the half, when Well hooked up with Clay Bolin from 31 yards out, the kick was no good with 7:58 left in the second period. The Marauders received the kick off to start the second half, and on first down, Well scrambled out of the pocket and hit Clay Bolin for 43 yards to the Buckeye 22. But the drive stalled and Well’s fourth down pass was incomplete giving the Buckeyes the ball at their own 24 yard line.

Meigs held them to a four and out, Campbell went back to punt, and the snap went over his head. Campbell picked it up by fell at his own three-yard line giving Meigs excellent field position. But the Buckeye defense held, and senior Mason Metts kicked a 27 yard field goal at the 6:40 mark of the third period to put the maroon and gold on top 15-8.

Once again the Marauder defense held and a short punt by Campbell gave Meigs the ball at there own 47. Six plays later, added by a Buckeye facemask penalty; Jeremy Smith took it in from 18 yard out. Metts added the extra points and the Marauders held a 22-8 lead with 2:21 left in the period.

But once again, Arnold came up with the big play. The Marauder kickoff went over his head, after he chased it down at the six he was off the races breaking tackled and taking it 94 yards for the score. The Marauder line on the extra points snowed under Arnold, but the Buckeyes had pulled to within 22-14 with 2:04 remaining in the period.

Justin Cunningham scored from 43 yards out, with Arnold adding the extra points at the 7:58 mark of the contest to tie the game at 22-all.

But Gabe Hill fielded the Buckeye kickoff at his own 25 yard line, Hill took it up the sideline and then broke to the middle of the field before the last Buckeye with a chance tripped him up at the Buckeye 10 yard line. Fours plays later Smith scored from three yards out on and fourth and three. The kick for the extra points by Metts hit the right up right, but Meigs was on top 28-22 with 5:52 left in the game.

The Buckeyes came right back however, driving 65 yards in 12 lays to take the lead. Arnold caught Barrick’s screen pass, broke a tackle and went 17 yards for the score. Once again it was Arnold who tacked on the extra points and the Buckeyes went back on top 30-28 with just 52 ticks left on the clock.

The Buckeye kickoff went out of bounds giving Meigs the ball at the Nelsonville-York 49. Aided by a pass interference call on Nelsonville-York, the Marauders had the ball at the Buckeye 24 with a first down and 16.3 seconds left. Well was flushed out of the pocket and his pass in the end zone was picked off by Campbell as hell fell out of the end zone. After a moment of indecision, the official ruled Buckeye ball and the game was all but over.

Arnold led all rushers with 166 yards in 30 carries, to go along with his two kickoff returns for scores. Cunningham added 57 in six tries. Barrick was three of seven in the air for 33 yards and a touchdown. Arnold had two receptions for 24 yards.

Well was 14 of 24 through the air for 213 yards and a pair of scores. Clay Bolin caught four passes for 11 yards; Cameron Bolin added four for 64 and Jeremy Smith five for 27. Smith carried the ball 23 times for a hard fought 89 yards; Cory Hutton added three for 13.

Unofficially on defense Ernie Welch had 15 tackles for Meigs, Gabe Hill nine with an interception and Mason Metts added nine.

Meigs drops to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the TVC. Meigs will travel to Warren Local next Saturday night for a non-conference game with the Warriors. The Buckeyes now 4-1 and 2-0 will travel to Belpre.

 

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