Tigers need overtime to beat the Eagles @DeltaEagles_ @YHSAthletics

Tagged under: Beyond The Keystone, Game Photos, Gameday Hub

David Burnworth | September 12, 2021

Friday night I was at Delta high school in Indiana for the big rivalry game between visiting Yorktown and Delta high school. Of all of the high school stadiums, I have been to this is the one I always walk away from saying best high school atmosphere of the year, and then I tell everyone how great it is. From the ample supply of food, you can get for donations only in the parking lot, to the gentleman working the grill, from the fans to both of the athletic directors I have met there this place is a must-go-to place to see a game. Plus as you walk into the stadium there are rosters for both teams available at no cost to any fan who wants them. Another awesome part of the overall experience here is the PA System is loud and the PA Guy will call out the numbers and names of the players involved in the play.

Delta missing their starting quarterback again would see their young Sophomore Kaiden Bond throw a little swing pass Abram Stitt, Stitt made like Keith Byars made a move and blasted off to the end zone for a 78-yard touchdown. Zion Griffis calmly came in and hit the point-after kick to make this a 7-0 game just:52 seconds into the game.

The Eagles offense was flying again at the 8:22 mark of the opening quarter with Dylan Manor converted a fourth and two with a 7-yard pickup. Bond would close out the drive when he busted free for a 15-yard quarterback touchdown run. The point after would increase the Eagles lead to 14-0 with 7:40 still left in the opening frame.

The Tigers offense would take another lump from the Eagels when Jalen Thomas was stopped by Ben Morris for no gain as it looked like the Eagles were going to get their offense back on the field before time ran out in the quarter. But Mason Moulton had something else in mind, he lofted a pass in the direction of Kolton Nanko that netted a 43-yard gain. Then Moulton found Nanko with a little under a minute left on the clock for a 15-yard gain on a catch that seen Nanko leap high into the air to make the catch.

The drive would continue into the 2nd quarter but the Eagles defense regrouped and shut it down before any points were scored. Thanks to a Parker Faletic who stopped the dangerous Nako for zero yards and on fourth and five from the Delta five by to force a turnover on downs.

After the Tigers defense finally started adjusting to what the Eagles were doing they got a big stop to allow their starting to warm up offense to take the field. Moulton hit Nanko for 40-yards to get things started. The Eagles responded with a tackle for a loss of 4-yards when Braxton Russell pounced on Nako. Nako would laugh last on the drive when he took in a 24-yard touchdown pass from Moulton after Joey Hazen made good on the point after kick we had a 14-7 game with a little over five minutes left in the half.

The Eagles defense ended the half with two nice plays. First, it was a sack on Moulton by Hunter Wallace then Jalen Thomas was dropped for a 7-yard loss after catching a screen pass by Dylan Manor. As the teams headed off the field I thought if the Eagles can not find a passing game this one was going to be a bigger dog fight than the first half was.

The third quarter started with a Moulton to Nako but Faletic was ready for it and he dropped the receiver for a loss of two. Staying with the defensive theme to begin the third quarter Grant Daugherty dropped Bond for a loss of four. Then it was a tackle by the Tigers Ashton Anderson on Bond for a loss of four. Carter Loveless would tip a Bond pass and then pick it off as defense continue to be the spark plug of the quarter. Morris would keep the Eagles defense going when he sacked Moulton for a loss of four. The Eagles offense looked to have something going when Thomas galloped to a 24-yard gain. Just as things looked even better with a Moulton to Nanko completion Nanko put the ball on the turf and coming with it for the Eagles was Blake Jones.

The third quarter still had 2:38 left in it and the Tigers offense was back on the field. Moulton used his feet to pick up 17-yards. With 1:04 left in the quarter facing a fourth and three Moulton found Loveless for the 3-yard touchdown making this a 14-13 game. The quarter ended but not before Nolan Carpenter picked up 25-yards on a nice run.

The deadly combo Moulton to Nanko struck for 27-yards with 11:08 left. Moulton then used his feet to pick up 23yards. The 6-3, 192-pound Sophomore is someone @CoachBaney and Grove City College needs to keep an eye out for. Moulton hooked up with Thomas another talented Sophomore for a 10-yard touchdown but flags were thrown on the play with the call being holding on the offense. Facing fourth and goal on the 17-yard line Moulton’s pass was incomplete and the Eagles defense left winning another battle.

The Eagles offense came onto the field needing to score or eat up some clock. Bond connected with Stitt for a first down on third and long. Carpenter picked up 22-yards on a fine run. Bond would hit Stitt for 6-yards on third and five. Stitt, who has speed to spare ran in for a 6-yard touchdown making this a 21-13 game, after another point after kick.

With 2:06 left Moulton found Blair Webster for 14-yards. As time wound down the Tigers worked the ball to the Eagles 28-yard line. From there Moulton dropped back to pass and found Adam Morrow for the 28-yard score. Needing the two-point conversion with 0:53 left in the game Moulton ran in for the conversion to lock this one up at 21. The game would then go into overtime.

In overtime, the Tigers would need just one play to go the ten yards when Moulton found Loveless for the score. Hazen came in and calmly went through his steps and kick the point after to give the Eagles the 28-21 lead.

The Eagles responded in two plays with Stitt running in from two yards out. Griffis came in for the tying point-after kick and it looked like he sprinted up to the ball causing his kick to miss its mark and allow the Tigers to escape with their first win over the Eagles since 2014.

UNOFFICIAL STATS

YORKTOWN

86 PLAYS

418 YARDS

PASSING 24-48 4 TD’S

DELTA

66 PLAYS

316 YARDS

PASSING 4-12 1 TD

#BEYONDTHEKEYSTONE

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