SportsSeptember 1, 2023
Dramatic injury unites Chaffee in 14-12 victory at Charleston
CHARLESTON, Mo. — In a clash marked by bone-crushing tackles and relentless ground assault, Chaffee emerged with a hard-fought 14-12 victory over Charleston at John Harris Marshall Field on Thursday, August 31. Carson Spies carried the team on his shoulders and the Red Devils (1-1) showed resilience throughout the game. ...
By Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat
CHARLESTON, Mo. — In a highly competitive and physical game, Chaffee emerged with a hard-fought 14-12 victory over Charleston at John Harris Marshall Field on Thursday, August 31.
Carson Spies carried the team on his shoulders and the Red Devils (1-1) showed resilience throughout the game. However, it was an unfortunate injury that unfolded during a kickoff early in the second quarter that became the defining moment, uniting the Chaffee players and igniting their determination to secure the win after freshman Grant Johnson was injured and had to be helicoptered off the field.
Chaffee coach Jack Atermatt confirmed that Johnson displayed movement and feeling in all extremities, offering a reassuring update on his condition after the play.
“We were juiced up coming out of that,” Altermatt said. “We wanted to win for him. He’s a gritty player. He showed out in a junior varsity game on Monday, so we rewarded him by putting him on special teams, and it was just one of those plays where he caught the wrong guy. This is my 23rd year of coaching and I’ve never seen a situation like that before. It was brutal.”
Before the injury that rocked the stadium, Chaffee had already established a 14-6 advantage with Spies leading the charge.
The junior quarterback, who was also an all-state selection as a defensive back last season, demonstrated his sheer willpower and tenacity, barreling his way into the endzone for an 11-yard run, putting the Red Devils ahead 7-0 with seven minutes and six seconds left in the first quarter.
“[Spies] runs downhill and is a physical guy,” Altermatt said. “He’s a really solid player.”
The Bluejays (0-2) refused to back down, seizing a critical opportunity and momentarily closing the gap to 7-6.
On a fourth-and-goal play, Ko’Terrion Owens escaped a defender and connected with DeShaun Henderson for a crucial four-yard touchdown pass with 3:54 left in the opening quarter.
However, Spies responded with his second touchdown run of the game on the ensuing drive. With 10:41 left in the second quarter, Spies displayed his perseverance and drive once again, finding this way into the endzone on a six-yard run to extend Chaffee’s advantage.
“We have come a long way,” Altermatt said. “We kept it simple on offense tonight. We had some other stuff we could run, but we didn’t want to play defense against Charleston because of their speed and we have a hard time tackling in space in those situations.
“We had several guys step up tonight,” he continued. “All of the offensive line sold out and did a great job tonight. Levi McKinnie was a great leader for us. Shelton Simmons caught a couple of balls and finally broke out on some runs after dealing with some injuries last season. Logan Horton and Craig Hanlon both did a nice job on the backend at their cornerback positions. We played some good defense and had a lot of guys play very well.”
The Bluejays responded by driving into the red zone on their next possession. However, a penalty pushed them back, and they failed to convert on fourth down, turning the ball over.
Chaffee punted on their next drive, and Charleston once again advanced into Red Devil territory, but penalties and an incomplete pass on fourth down resulted in another turnover on downs.
“From day one, since I’ve been here, all of these guys have shown up to the weight room and worked to get to this point,” Altermatt said. “I’m just proud of them, they’re a hard-working group. It’s been a slow process. Last year, we took some lumps. This year our mindset is different.”
After halftime, Charleston started its opening half drive around midfield and made an impressive march down to the 10-yard line, putting itself in the red zone once again. However, a couple of penalties pushed them back to the 20-yard line and Chaffee’s defense was able to make another stop on fourth down.
“We were getting in the red zone and then shooting ourselves in the foot,” said Charleston coach Justin Hutchings. “We didn’t get it going in the first half again. We’re just young and fresh. It’s going to take some time, but these guys are willing to work and put in the effort. We’ve been right there in every game so far and hopefully, we can get that corner turned.”
During Chaffee’s next drive, Shelton Simmons delivered the game’s most explosive play, breaking free for a 37-yard run. Despite the burst of momentum, Charleston’s defense stepped up to halt the progress at midfield after Zachyran Thomas made a decisive tackle for a loss on fourth down, forcing a turnover on downs and giving the Bluejays a much-needed defensive stop with less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Charleston finally showcased its offensive prowess with an impressive drive down the field. The Bluejays converted multiple fourth downs on the drive, both on runs by Owens, to keep their hopes alive.
With just 6:28 remaining on the clock, Charleston found the endzone on a powerful six-yard run by Thomas. The score tightened the margin to 14-12, setting the stage for a thrilling finish. However, the Bluejays’ attempt to equalize the game on the two-point conversion fell short, leaving them just shy of tying the score.
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As the game clock ticked down, Chaffee took possession at its 35-yard line, determined to seal the victory. The Red Devils moved into Bluejays’ territory, reaching the 30-yard line. However, their hopes to put the game to bed were dashed when Charleston forced a turnover on downs with 2:50 left in the game.
“We should have just punted,” Altermatt said.
Amidst the intense drive, the Bluejays defense stood tall. Zamarion Quinn, a pillar of strength on the line, delivered a pivotal moment with a massive tackle for a loss on the drive. His exceptional play forced Chaffee into a challenging situation.
Charleston was awarded one final chance to mount a comeback and secure the victory, and the stage was set for an exhilarating conclusion of the game.
As the Bluejays advanced past midfield, their offense gained momentum with impressive runs by Thomas, Owens and J’Maurion Robinson, inching closer to the end zone.
However, the tide turned in a surprising twist when Spies delivered a crushing hit that forced a fumble after about a 10-yard completion over the middle with just 49.8 seconds left on the clock.
Leyton Hanback, a quick-thinking player, alertly pounced on the loose ball, securing possession and sealing the victory.
“We had to work for it,” Altermatt said. “It was one of those things where we had a little bit of luck bounce our play on that play. [Charleston] had momentum coming down the field and they’re a good team.
“Justin Hutchings is as good of a coach as there has ever been,” he continued. “I’m telling you, he is great. He has done some things here at Charleston that a lot of us mortals couldn’t pull off. He’s a great man.”
The Red Devils’ 14-12 win was a significant turnaround from last season’s 36-6 loss to the Bluejays.
Altermatt expressed his excitement, stating it had been nearly three decades since Chaffee last defeated Charleston.
Although the teams have not played every year and had gaps in their games, the victory held great importance for the Red Devil’s program.
“That’s a big improvement for us,” Altermatt said. “We played pretty aggressively and we were physical.”
Despite the loss, Charleston outgained Chaffee in total yardage 254-181. Penalties affected both teams’ performance. The Bluejays were penalized five times for 30 yards, while the Red Devils had six penalties resulting in 50 yards.
In the end, Chaffee’s ability to make the most of its opportunities proved pivotal in earning the nail-biting victory.
Spies, the Red Devils top performer, rushed 19 times for 91 yards and two touchdowns. He also completed 2-of-3 passes for 22 yards.
Levi McKinnie contributed 12 rushes for 32 yards, while Simmons had two carries for 38 yards and two receptions for 22 yards.
On the other hand, the Bluejays had a more balanced rushing attack on offense. Robinson rushed for 82 yards on 19 carries, Thomas had eight rushes for 41 yards and a touchdown, Owens had nine carries for 60 yards and Kaden Branam rushed five times for 43 yards.
Owens completed 4-of-7 pass attempts for 22 yards and a touchdown, with Henderson making two receptions for 14 yards and a score.
“We cleaned up some things,” Hutchings said. “Now it’s just about technique and effort. We just have to keep working on those things in practice. We just have to keep working.”
Hutching added that he was pleased with the team’s defensive showing, especially the adjustments made after halftime which resulted in shutting Chaffee out in the second half.
“I thought we did all right against [Chaffee’s offense],” he said. “We didn’t give up many points, but that type of offense is hard to stop with a bunch of first-year guys. I’m proud of my guys, I love them a lot and we’re going to get better for next week.”
Charleston travels to Malden (0-1), while Chaffee hosts Kelly (1-0) on Friday, September 8.
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