CAL Wrangled the Mustangs from North Oldham into a Double Overtime Thriller
Seniors John Popavich and Austin Chelf set the tone early roping and taming the North Oldham Class 4A Mustangs for an initial drive of negative 9 yards. Three and outs became a trend in the game for the Mustangs.
The CAL offense then galloped from their 45 yard line to the end zone on 10 straight runs primarily with the legs of Nick Payne. Nathan Bader followed up Payne’s touchdown with a perfect point after kick pushing the Centurions out front early 7-0 in the first quarter.
North Oldham changed tactics on their next possession and ran away from the defensive line on sweeps, with well-executed blocking schemes. The Mustangs trotted into the end zone later in that first quarter with a 22-yard sweep right.
The teams went to the sidelines tied at 7 after that first quarter and battled hard for an advantage for the remaining three. The CAL defense, led by Chad Meredith and Rider Sparrow with 8 tackles a piece, figured out the containment and held the Mustangs to just two first downs during the last three quarters of regulation play. Nathan Christmas guided the CAL offense to eight first downs with 37 yards in the air to Chad Lewellyn, a 7-yard completion to Zach Passafiume and a steady dose of Chelf and Payne on the ground. Neither team penetrated the end zone, leaving the score at the end of regulation 7-7.
North Oldham handled the ball first in overtime. They punched it in on a sweep to the left and with the successful point after attempt, pushed ahead 14-7. Andrew Packer and Hunter Trenamen led the offensive linemen in a valiant push through the Mustang defense, giving Payne his second rushing touchdown of the night. Under extreme pressure, sophomore kicker Nathan Bader came through on a perfect kick to push the game into a second overtime.
The CAL offense worked first in the second overtime. The Mustang defense came strong and pushed the Centurions out of field goal range sacking Christmas. Lewellyn took over at quarterback after Christmas left the game, shaken up on the sack. He took the snap and scrambled, breaking a couple of tackles in the backfield and then let the ball fly to the corner of the end zone. The home stands fell silent as a North Oldham defender batted the ball at the last moment, ending the CAL scoring attempt.
The CAL defense then picked up with tackles by Blake Chelf, Meredith and Trenamen preventing a Mustang touchdown. At fourth down in the second overtime, former CAL student and football player Caleb Kellogg came to the field and kicked a dagger into the heart of the Centurion nation through the uprights.
The Mustangs escaped a valiant fight from the Centurions who took an undefeated 4A team to a difference of three points in double overtime. What a game, what a fight, what honor, effort and composure on the field! Go CAL!
Soli Deo Gloria!
