Well, after 3 plus months of practice and 10 battles on the football field, our season has come to an unfortunate end. We fought like men against Marion, but unfortunately we fell 2 points short, with a final score of 29-27. The loss has left a bitter taste in all of our mouths, but the fight was our season's finest hour.
On the road as a four seed and seeking an upset, we came in knowing that we had to play our best football to win. Striking first was of the utmost importance to us. We knew that we needed to get Marion down so they had to play from behind and rely on a weak passing game. After a first possession three and out, we marched down into our own territory before connecting on a Kramer to James TD reception to give us the early lead. The Indians scratched back but were not able to put the ball in the endzone coming up with a hard earned field-goal, keeping the score in our favor, 7-3. With great kick-off returns all night, we stayed in striking distance on most every possession. Dan Beard popped off a 51 yard TD to give us a 14-3 lead following the Nick Kruse PAT. Coach Butler's defense did the job again, holding Marion to another field-goal and a 14-6 deficit. It was a quick score for the Indians just before halftime when they capitalized on an interception. But the score wouldn't be enough to equalize the score, and left them trailing 14-13 at halftime.
Luke Schroeder rolled his ankle in the second quarter and couldn't return for the second half. With one of our best lineman out, we knew that our battle tested line would have to go without a rotation, and they went above and beyond the call of duty. Sean Wagner, Josh Digman, Mason Simon-Ressler, Kyle Kass, and Dane Bergfeld manned the trenches with heart and true grit. Every yard we moved the ball came at the hands of their toil. After a slugfest of a 3rd quarter, and an Indian field-goal, we took a huge blow with the injury of Dylan James from a seperated shoulder. Just when you thought that there was doubt in our hearts, we shook off the bad luck, in true Bobcat fashion, with a huge TD completion to Tyler Donovan giving us the lead at 21-17 in the early 4th quarter. Marion struck back with a long TD drive but a failed 2pt conversion attempt. Trailing by 2 points, we pounded the rock back up the middle of the field leading to a 21 yard Dawson Nemmers TD run. Trying to stretch the lead to seven, we went for two points falling just inches short.
As Marion began to pass, we felt that we had them where we wanted them. With a Blake Kass interception at the 6 minute mark, and we knew that we needed to grind the clock out. Unfortunately, with a 3 and out, we gave the ball back to them with three minutes to go. After a great punt by Riley Pfeiler, the Indians started out on their own 11 yard line. With 89 yards to go, the fought to get to thier own forty yard-line. With 1:37 left on the clock, Marion attempted a Hail Mary pass. After a first down deflection, Marion completed a miracle pass to take the lead leaving us with a little less than 1:30 on the clock. A few quick completions put us across mid-field before we fumbled a completion to put the game away.
The loss struck deep with every member of the Bobcat Football nation. From players to parents and staff to students, the outcome was difficult to take, but the pride I have for each and every player is so immense. We fought together, worked together, ate together, cried together, won together, and lost together. There was an incredible bond created. I will miss these boys greatly and am proud to say that I have coached them.
