10/6/2007 12:14:00 PM 

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Buckeyes' comeback sinks Meigs

JOE HIGGINS
Messenger staff writer

NELSONVILLE - Fumbles, multiple big plays given up, and finally a sobering injury. It looked like the worst of times for Nelsonville-York, but the worst of times brought out the best in the Buckeyes.

A late-game injury to one of their own sparked the Buckeyes into 12 fourth-quarter points and propelled Nelsonville-York past Meigs Friday, 19-14.

With 10:12 remaining in the game, Nelsonville-York (4-3, 2-0 Tri-Valley Conference Ohio) was on the brink of its first loss to the Marauders (4-3, 1-1 TVC-Ohio) since 1999. Meigs had the lead, 14-7, and was driving at the Buckeyes' 7-yard line. On first-and-goal, Marauders quarterback Aaron Story scampered into the end zone and seemed to have put the game out of reach.

Buckeye fans breathed a sigh of relief when the referee called back the touchdown for Marauders' holding. That is, they would have had they not held their collective breath anxiously as senior linebacker and defensive leader Scott Cunningham lay motionless at the goal line.

For 10 minutes that seemed like an eternity, Cunningham lay on the field as coaches, family and EMTs stood at his side. Players from both Meigs and Nelsonville-York huddled together in reverent silence on their sidelines as Cunningham was lifted onto a stretcher. He was rolled off the field to somber applause while the Buckeyes mulled about on their sideline and donned their helmets.

"Cunningham's been the inspiration for this defense all year long, and the kids, it's like a bell went off in their heads," Boston said. "They come back fighting, and they wanted to get it for him."

According to Boston, the measures were precautionary, and Cunningham was believed to have been briefly knocked unconscious. He had movement in all his extremities and reportedly wanted to walk off the field on his own power.

No one must have told the Buckeyes. For the final ten minutes, they played like there was more to this game than just another mark in the win column.

On the next play, the Buckeyes pulled down Marauders star running back Cornelius English for a seven-yard loss. Then came an 11-yard sack of Story that got the crowd to its loudest.

Within three minutes, the Maruaders had gone from a first-and-goal at the Buckeyes' 7 to third-and-goal at the 35. Two consecutive incompletions by Story sealed an outstanding defensive stand by the Buckeyes.

"We made a lot of mistakes this ball game," Boston said. "We turned the ball over four times, but I thought our defense kept Cornelius in check. That's what we wanted to do, and it was just a great defensive battle both ways."

The great defense, which had been performing well all game with numerous offensive disappointments, finally saw its reward in the fourth quarter.

On the next drive, the Buckeyes marched down the field, abated only by a false start penalty. When Buckeyes running back Derek Arnold fumbled at the Marauders' 32-yard line - the Buckeyes' fifth fumble - the crowd had another reason to hold its breath, but Arnold recovered and wasted no time in granting his team absolution.

Arnold caught a pass over the middle on the next play and sprinted through the secondary for a touchdown. Despite his fumble, Arnold was the star of the drive, rushing for 26 yards and catching the 32-yard touchdown pass, his only reception of the game. He finished second on the team with 82 rushing yards.

"We made big plays when we needed to," Boston said. "That's what winners do, and our kids do that."

Nelsonville-York's extra-point attempt was blocked, and English began leading his team down the field, trying to cap off his 27-carry, 120-yard day with a hard-fought win. As the clock ticked down from 3:40 and English converted a crucial third-down at Meigs' 40, the Buckeyes' window of opportunity looked to be closing, but the window flew wide open on the next play as English fumbled and the Buckeyes recovered at Meigs' 49.

Divinity seemed to be on the side of the Buckeyes. If not divinity, then what?

"Heart, desire, determination," Buckeyes running back Zach Talbert said.

Whatever it was, something powerful seemed to be pushing Talbert as he plowed through multiple Meigs defenders on his way to a 15-yard touchdown run that put the score at 19-14 and capped the comeback.

One minute later, English was brought down at the 50-yard line as time expired. Cunningham wasn't on the field for it, but the Buckeyes and their fans made sure he could hear the victorious revelry wherever he was. The fans ejected from their seats, the band played its fight song, and the Buckeyes huddled at the 30-yard line to send their prayers into the night.

It was the best of times for the Buckeyes, who took a big step toward a fifth-straight TVC-Ohio championship.

"Take our hat off it shows a lot about our young team to come back against an experienced football team like Meigs," Boston said. "That's just Nelsonville-York football. Our kids know how to win, and they just weren't going to give it up that easy."