| BataviasBest.org
Saturday, September 13, 2014
After a great effort early in the game on Saturday afternoon, the Oakfield Hornets wore down late in the fourth quarter and allowed the Nichols Vikings to snatch a victory from right under their nose. Although OA led the majority of the game Nichols was able to chip away, score a late touchdown, and send the contest to overtime where they eventually won the game.
Despite their late misfortune during the fourth quarter and overtime, the afternoon began with the Hornets clicking on all cylinders.
Oakfield’s first drive was jumpstarted by a long run to the outside on second down which set them up in prime position to take an early lead. Later in the drive, a short touchdown pass from Hornets’ quarterback Allen Chatt capped off the impressive drive and gave OA a 6-0 lead with around five minutes to go in the first.
Following the ensuing kickoff, the Vikings took over around their own thirty yard line and began to move the ball immediately. Nichols’ running back Mercy Cox-Hicks started strong on their first drive as he ripped off a number of powerful runs which brought the Vikings all the way down to the red zone. However, a huge penalty extinguished the threat and gave Oakfield the ball back as Nichols was forced to punt on fourth and long from the OA thirty five yard line.
With the change in possession, came the end of the first quarter, as the Hornets found themselves out in front by six points.
To begin the quarter, OA effortlessly marched right down the field for their second touchdown of the day. Another TD pass from Chatt, this time a long one, gave the Hornets a two-score lead following a successful two point conversion and suddenly turned the game into a one-sided affair; but Nichols was not dead yet.
The momentum being completely on the side of Oakfield as the Vikings took over possession, Nichols continued to chip away at the Hornets’ defense using their running game and again were able to cross midfield with relative ease. Along with Cox-Hicks, Steve Glinski presented a tough challenge for OA, as both backs came equipped with supreme size and athleticism which helped them win one-on-one battles past the line of scrimmage all afternoon.
Although they were able to move the ball initially, Nichols drive was once again stopped short of the end zone as they were forced into a fourth and fourteen by the OA defense. Unable to convert on the fourth and long, the Vikings were in a bad position down by two scores with time winding down in the half. As the Hornets regained the football, there was 2:38 left in the second quarter and another touchdown was staring Nichols dead in the face.
After a few plays of minimal gain, time ticked down to just under :45 to play in the half and a timeout was called with the ball resting at midfield. Out of the timeout, the Hornets decided to try something crafty – a wide receiver toss-pass.
Completing the deep throw down the left sideline, Oakfield took the wild play for forty yards which set them up inside the red zone with only :01 on the clock. On the next play, the Hornets again tried to throw, but this time were unable to make the completion and settled for the 14-0 halftime advantage.
Up until the break, the scoreboard would have led you to believe the game was ALL Oakfield. However, with several long runs from Cox-Hicks and Glinski throughout the first half, the Nichols offense was providing their sideline with hope for the final two quarters.
At the start of the second half, the Vikings finally broke through as another long, run-heavy drive from Nichols finally reached pay dirt. The score had been cut to 14-6 with the home team now within one score of tying the game.
With 7:07 remaining in the third, the Hornets retained possession deep in Nichols territory thanks to a fantastic kickoff return that almost went the distance. An injury timeout stopped play shortly after the impressive run-back, but once the injured Hornet was helped off the field the OA offense used the great field position, turning it into points.
With the score now 22-6 in favor of Oakfield, the Nichols offense jogged back onto the field in need of another scoring drive. However, in contrast to how they began the second half, the Vikings were not able to get what they so desperately needed. Instead, Chatt, who was all over the field for the Hornets on Saturday, intercepted a Glinski pass on the right side which gave his offense the ball back with a chance to truly seize control of the game.
Unable to capitalize on the turnover, though, OA was quickly forced to punt.
Deciding not to return the kick, Nichols watched the ensuing punt bounce in front of them at about their own thirty yard line and trickle all the way down inside the five. The unfortunate bounce made me begin to think the Vikings couldn’t catch a break on Saturday – that was until the 95-yard quarter back keeper on the very next play.
Nichols’ Steve Glinski, who had showed potential running the ball all day long, was finally able to break free into the secondary and took it the distance, cutting the OA lead to only eight following the successful two-point conversion. On their very next possession, the Oakfield offense stalled once again and were forced into a three and out which gave the Vikings the ball back with a chance to tie it up.
Using the run as they had all day long, Nichols drove the length of the field in just four plays and found themselves inside the red zone at the OA ten yard line. On the very next play the Vikings plunged into the end zone, cutting the lead to just two, and following the failed two-point try, the Hornets got the ball back in desperate need of an extended drive to stop the bleeding.
Luckily for them, they got exactly what they needed, as a lengthy drive highlighted by a long throw and catch from Chatt to Emery was capped off by a one-yard touchdown plunge, which gave the Hornets another eight-point lead with under four minutes remaining in the game. Here is the TD run:
As the Vikings got the ball back following the kickoff, the Oakfield defense was presented with the task of getting just one final stop to secure the hard-fought victory, but they were unable to halt the Nichols offense.
Following a few big plays which moved the Vikings within OA territory, and three straight runs (surprising I know) inside the OA ten yard line, Nichols had brought the ball all the way down to the one yard line as they called for a timeout with :03 remaining on the clock.
During the timeout on the Oakfield sideline, the Hornets’ coaches and players pumped each other up for one more stand that could potentially win them the game.
Despite the Hornets’ best effort, however, the Vikings found their way across the goal line for the touchdown, but were still in need of a two-point conversion to tie the game. Here is the TD run:
And they got it:
With the score knotted at 28-all, and the time on the clock expired, the Hornets must have been floating in a sea of sadness after watching their lead slip away. They had gone from ahead by two scores, to an overtime period which no one on that sideline must have even thought possible at halftime, but despite the buzzkill, Oakfield had to mount up for one last stand in the extra period.
Getting the ball first at the Nichols twenty yard line, Oakfield was in need of a touchdown to press the Vikings into a do-or-die situation during their possession but they failed to convert. Unable to gain more than five or so yards during the short drive, the Hornets were forced to turn to their defense for the stop they had been searching for since midway through the third quarter.
On a first down inside the Hornets’ ten yard line, the Vikings killed OA’s hopes.
A short touchdown run completed the comeback and sent the away team packing with their first loss of the season. The defeat must’ve been a difficult one to swallow for the Oakfield players, who fought hard all afternoon long only to come up short when it mattered most.
With the negative, however, there was also plenty of positive to take away from this game if you are a Hornets fan.
Finishing the game 8/17 for 121 yards and 2 TDs, OA quarterback Allen Chatt had another impressive game on Saturday. Connecting with several of his receivers, the do-it-all QB showed his ability to lead the offense down the field with consistency throughout the day.
Along with Chatt, OA running back Ryan Emery also had a fantastic day on the ground rushing 13 times for 70 yards despite being injured twice late in the game (cramping I believe). Complimenting Mandell (2/44/1) on the outside, Sal Schwable added to his counterpart’s success with 4 receptions for 47 yards.
In addition to the success the Hornets experienced offensively, they also played a sound defensive game for much of the first half. Leading the team in tackles yesterday, Jon Harris finished with 11 in all, while Chatt, Schwable and Emery all finished with over five a piece. Emery also added a sack and Chatt added the INT.
Next up for Oakfield (1-1) will be their home opener as the Pembroke Dragons (0-2) come to town for another classic GR matchup.
Other articles you may like:
Oakfield vs Nichols Scouting Report – Here is some information on the Vikings
