DALLAS — You won’t see a prettier drive at any level.
Twenty plays covering 85 yards with several clutch conversions. Dallas’ Matt Harrison throwing a bubble screen to Tanner Gattuso to set up a fourth-quarter, game-tying score with 50 seconds left.
Gavin Hiller’s short, 1-yard run in overtime wasn’t as dramatic. But it was enough for Wallenpaupack as the Buckhorns held Dallas on its OT possession in a 20-14 victory in non-conference action Friday night in the Back Mountain.
“We’ve been in some good ones over the last few years but this one had so much significance to it,” Paupack head coach Mark Watson said. “This was the game of the week, and they are a great football team. For someone to lose this game, it stinks. But I’m damn proud of our guys. We are in a great situation now.”
The team exchanged touchdowns in the third quarter, the first period any points were put on the scoreboard. David Simpson scored from 6 yards out for Dallas, but the Buckhorns (2-0) answered less than one minute later on a Mike Ingulli 70-yard sprint down the middle of the field.
When Rutgers recruit Reshawn Battle busted into the end zone just seven seconds into the fourth, it marked a familiar position for Dallas; one it faced in Week 1 at Scranton.
The Mountaineers would need some late magic, but this time to force a tie. Against the Knights, it was a game-winning TD with less than three minutes left.
Friday’s drive was orchestrated perfectly by Harrison. His team never lost control or confidence.
Dallas (1-1) converted on third down three times.
More importantly, they were clutch on fourth.
Harrison hooked up with Gattuso on a fourth-and-short from the Paupack 15 to set up a first-and-goal at the 6-yard line with 1:23 left in regulation.
After three straight incomplete passes, the Mountaineers called a time-out to set up the fourth-and-goal play.
Gattuso lined up on the right side and immediately stepped back. Harrison flung him the ball in open space and the receiver did the work – making two pretty cuts for the 6-yard score. Ron Ostrowski split the uprights to knot the game at 14 with 50 ticks.
Paupack, interestingly, played for overtime – allowing just to run two dives to chew all the clock.
Apparently, Watson knew what he was doing.
With the ball placed on the 10-yard line to start overtime, the Buckhorns needed just three plays – two runs by Battle covering nine yards, and Hiller’s short 1-yard plunge through the middle of the defense.
“This might be the best feeling I’ve had in a game ever,” Battle said. “Words can’t describe it. We’ve worked hard all summer, and we feel that we’ve worked harder than any team. We had faith in each other. We were positive the whole time that we would leave here with the victory.”
Dallas had its chance from the 10. Paupack stuffed the first-down run play for a 3-yard loss, and later, an illegal procedure call pushed the Mountaineers back to the 18. On the final play, Paupack got pressure off the edge, forced Harrison to roll out and sacked the quarterback for a 7-yard loss.
“We preach this stuff to our kids, and we push mental discipline,” Watson said. “I’m so proud of that team walking off the field. I can’t say it enough.”
Harrison had a great game, completing 17 of 30 for 162 yards – finding six different receivers. Senior tailback Bret Storrs added 98 yards rushing.
Battle (86 yards rushing) and teammate Ingulli (80 yards) combined for 166 of Wallenpaupack’s 210 total yards
Wallenpaupack 20, Dallas 14, OT
W `0`0`7`7`6 – 20
D `0`0`7`7`0 – 14
Third Quarter
D — David Simpson 6 run (Ron Ostrowski kick), 9:36
P — Mike Ingulli 70 run (Matt Vosburg kick), 8:35
Fourth Quarter
P — Reshawn Battle 11 run (Vosburg kick), 11:53
D — Tanner Gattuso 6 pass from Matt Harrison (Ostrowski kick), 0:50
Overtime
P — Gavin Hiller 1 run (kick wide), 0:00
Team Statistics `W`D
First Downs `9`17
Rushes-Yards `35-175 `36-96
Passing Yards `35`162
Total Yards `210`258
Passing `4-7-1`17-30-0
Sacks-Yards Lost `4-26`1-6
Punts-Average `4-31.5`4-29
Fumbles-Lost `1-1`3-2
Penalties-Yards `4-33`6-60
Individual Statistics
RUSHING — P, Reshawn Battle 23-86; Mike Ingulli 6-80, Aiden Maldacker 3-5, Gavin Hiller 3-4. D, Bret Storrs 21-98, David Simpson 7-25, Team 1-(minus 7), Matt Harrison 7-(minus 20).
PASSING — P, Gavin Hiller 4-7-1, 35 yards. D, Matt Harrison 17-30-0, 162 yards.
RECEIVING — P, Isaiah Rios 2-25, James Gentes 1-8, Reshawn Battle 1-2. D, Tanner Gattuso 5-69, Christian Roberts 4-51, Jack Tomko 3-26, David Simpson 2-14, Ryan Martin 1-12, Stone Mannello 1-3, Matt Harrison 1-(minus 13).
INTERCEPTIONS — D, Stone Mannello
