Kilbourne rallies, topples Davidson
Wildcats’ two-point conversion try fails in final minute
By Steve Blackledge
The Columbus DispatchOver and over last night in a Division I regional championship game, Worthington Kilbourne found itself backed against a wall, needing a crucial play.
So it seemed fitting that its season hung in the balance with 26 seconds remaining, clinging to a 35-34 lead and facing a two-point conversion attempt by Hilliard Davidson.
Linebacker Eric Burnsides stopped Christen Haywood for no gain and Kilbourne, which trailed most of the game, won to advance to a state semifinal.
“We figured they’d run their best play, a speed option on the outside veer, to their best player (Haywood),” Kilbourne coach Jeff Gafford said.
Gafford said he wasn’t surprised that Davidson opted to try for the win rather than try to send the game to overtime.
“Their kicker was banged up, Haywood was feeling the pounding he was taking and they were carrying the momentum after that last two-minute drive,” he said. “I don’t blame him at all.”
Kilbourne (11-2), which will face nationally ranked Cincinnati Colerain (13-0) on Saturday in Welcome Stadium in Dayton, took its first lead with 4:20 left in the game. On third-and-13, Jordan Gafford connected with Cory Kovanda into a 76-yard touchdown pass.
“We’ve worked on this jailbreak screen in practice a lot, but we haven’t hardly run it all year,” Kovanda said. “Once I busted the first hole, I saw my blockers out ahead of me and I knew I was gone.”
Davidson (11-2), which outgained Kilbourne 448-342 in total yardage and had a 27-10 lead in first downs, put together a 64-year scoring drive in the final 1:57, sparked by quarterback Zack Griffith. He rushed for 152 yards on 26 carries and passed for 133, completing 8 of 12.
After the failed two-point conversion try, Kilbourne recovered the onside kick.
Davidson, which scored on all three of its first-half drives totaling 245 yard, led 21-7 in the second quarter and 28-14 in the third, but Kilbourne responded with quick touchdowns.
The Wildcats’ troubles began when Haywood, who rushed for 118 yards on 25 carries, was stopped a yard short on a fake punt attempt with 1:44 left in the third quarter.
Then, a fumble by Griffith led to a 53-yard touchdown pass from Gafford to James Coppeler to tie the score at 28 with 8:14 left.
After Kilbourne took the lead, Jeff Thompson made a diving interception of a halfback pass by Haywood.
“Tonight was just a matter of responding whenever we had to,” Kovanda said.
Jordan Gafford said, “I don’t know whether it was out of desperation or what, but we just kept making plays when we needed them.”
Jeff Gafford, who is Jordan’s father, called it one of the most stirring victories in his coaching career.
“You couldn’t ask for a better football game than that,” he said. “Nobody gave us much of a chance tonight and nobody will give us any chance against Colerain, but that’s fine. I know these kids will lay it all out there on the line.”
By Steve Blackledge
The Columbus DispatchOver and over last night in a Division I regional championship game, Worthington Kilbourne found itself backed against a wall, needing a crucial play.
So it seemed fitting that its season hung in the balance with 26 seconds remaining, clinging to a 35-34 lead and facing a two-point conversion attempt by Hilliard Davidson.
Linebacker Eric Burnsides stopped Christen Haywood for no gain and Kilbourne, which trailed most of the game, won to advance to a state semifinal.
“We figured they’d run their best play, a speed option on the outside veer, to their best player (Haywood),” Kilbourne coach Jeff Gafford said.
Gafford said he wasn’t surprised that Davidson opted to try for the win rather than try to send the game to overtime.
“Their kicker was banged up, Haywood was feeling the pounding he was taking and they were carrying the momentum after that last two-minute drive,” he said. “I don’t blame him at all.”
Kilbourne (11-2), which will face nationally ranked Cincinnati Colerain (13-0) on Saturday in Welcome Stadium in Dayton, took its first lead with 4:20 left in the game. On third-and-13, Jordan Gafford connected with Cory Kovanda into a 76-yard touchdown pass.
“We’ve worked on this jailbreak screen in practice a lot, but we haven’t hardly run it all year,” Kovanda said. “Once I busted the first hole, I saw my blockers out ahead of me and I knew I was gone.”
Davidson (11-2), which outgained Kilbourne 448-342 in total yardage and had a 27-10 lead in first downs, put together a 64-year scoring drive in the final 1:57, sparked by quarterback Zack Griffith. He rushed for 152 yards on 26 carries and passed for 133, completing 8 of 12.
After the failed two-point conversion try, Kilbourne recovered the onside kick.
Davidson, which scored on all three of its first-half drives totaling 245 yard, led 21-7 in the second quarter and 28-14 in the third, but Kilbourne responded with quick touchdowns.
The Wildcats’ troubles began when Haywood, who rushed for 118 yards on 25 carries, was stopped a yard short on a fake punt attempt with 1:44 left in the third quarter.
Then, a fumble by Griffith led to a 53-yard touchdown pass from Gafford to James Coppeler to tie the score at 28 with 8:14 left.
After Kilbourne took the lead, Jeff Thompson made a diving interception of a halfback pass by Haywood.
“Tonight was just a matter of responding whenever we had to,” Kovanda said.
Jordan Gafford said, “I don’t know whether it was out of desperation or what, but we just kept making plays when we needed them.”
Jeff Gafford, who is Jordan’s father, called it one of the most stirring victories in his coaching career.
“You couldn’t ask for a better football game than that,” he said. “Nobody gave us much of a chance tonight and nobody will give us any chance against Colerain, but that’s fine. I know these kids will lay it all out there on the line.”