Indians resist Devils' late attempt

CHUCK WU ~ cwu@semissourian.com 54 sheds off one tackle and tries to break another tackle during the kick off return at the second half againist Chaffee. [Click to enlarge]

PERRYVILLE -- Chaffee coach Charlie Vickery never hesitated when calling for his offense to attempt a 2-point conversion while trailing St. Vincent by one point with 6 minutes, 2 seconds remaining in Friday night's game.

Vickery's team had the momentum in its favor, having just scored on a trick play where receiver Trenton Horman fired a 56-yard touchdown pass to back Hunter Thomason.

Looking for the lead instead of the tie late, quarterback Aaron Horrell rolled to his right on the 2-point try and fired into the end zone, but his throw was out of the reach of intended receiver Collin Dannenmueller.

St. Vincent got the ball back, put a strong drive together in the final 6 minutes to score a touchdown and win 28-20 in their Class 1 District 1 game.

Vickery went for 2-point conversions all three times the Red Devils scored Friday.

Vickery said his team practiced 2-point conversions in practice this week.

"There's no second-guessing on that at all," Vickery said. "None. Matter of fact, if it was like that I would have went for 2 anyway being up here."

CHUCK WU ~ cwu@semissourian.com Justin L'Hote of St. Vincent strips the ball from Chaffee's reciver Trenton Horman as 54 recovers the ball. [Click to enlarge]

Indians coach Keith Winkler said he was a little surprised to see Chaffee attempt the 2-point conversion. But he said the stop was important for his team, giving it momentum, which carried over as it drove the field for the score that pushed the lead to eight points. That touchdown drive covered 53 yards, all coming on rushing plays.

"That was big [to hold Chaffee]," Winkler said. "That pass play [for the touchdown], we saw them run that on film and we worked on it this week and we talked about it. We were looking for something along those lines and we blew an assignment.

"But to make that stand the way they did and then stick the ball back in the end zone at that point in time, those were huge momentum swings."

The Indians' touchdown drive took 3:13.

CHUCK WU ~ cwu@semissourian.com Collin Dannenmueller returns the kick for touch down for the Chaffee Red Devils. [Click to enlarge]

Running backs C.J. Pavlovsky and Justin L'Hote each had 71 yards rushing before halftime. Pavlovsky finished the game with 107 yards, while L'Hote gained 119 yards.

"You have to credit the offensive line," Winkler said. "They came off the ball hard. They were blitzing a lot. They were bringing their linebackers and turned it into a nine-man front. And we picked up some of the blitzes. Once we got through that first level, we were able to get some big yards. But credit the offensive linemen. They blew some holes open for these guys to run. These guys saw the holes and ran with authority."

It was an important game for both teams because two teams from each district qualify for the playoffs under the new system. Also in Class 1 District 1 is winless Portageville, who both Chaffee and St. Vincent should be favored to beat, and Hayti, the sixth-ranked team in Class 1, who Winkler said is the favorite to win the district.

"It's a big step," Winkler said. "You lose the first one, you really put yourself in a hole. You've got to win the two going out of there and then hope you get some help. But we talk about that a little bit. But we're focused right now. We know we have Portageville next week and you can't overlook anybody."

CHUCK WU ~ cwu@semissourian.com Justin L'Hote breaking tackles while returning the kick against Chaffee. [Click to enlarge]

St. Vincent took an early lead, scoring on its second offensive play just 1:59 seconds into the contest. Pavlovsky scampered 38 yards for a score.

Aaron Dzik added two field goals in the second quarter to give the Indians a 13-0 lead.

But Chaffee scored 14 points in the final 3:45 before halftime.

Dannenmueller returned a kickoff 98 yards, and Horrell ran one in for a touchdown.

St. Vincent reclaimed the lead 21-13 with 19 seconds remaining in the third. The Indians had to go just 22 yards after they recovered a fumble by Horman, who dropped a punt.

"They've got a good football team," Vickery said. "They get off the ball, they're aggressive, and give them credit. I don't think we played poorly at all. It's just that they played good. ... Our kids played hard. We have nothing to hang our heads about at all. We could have just as well won the game as lost the game."

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:First quarter

St. V -- Pavlovsky 38 run (Dzik kick), 10:01

Second quarter

St. V -- FG Dzik 32, 7:19

St. V -- FG Dzik 37, 3:59

C -- Dannenmueller 98 kick return (Horman pass from Horrell), 3:45

C -- Horrell 1 run (pass failed), :42

Third quarter

St. V -- Yamnitz 5 run (L'Hote run), :19

Fourth quarter

C -- Thomason 56 pass from Horman (pass failed), 6:02

St. V -- Yamnitz 5 run (Dzik kick), 2:16