McWill defeats Jones in double-overtime thriller

By Ryan Glassman     11/19/09 6:00pm

McWill 13, Jones 12 (Double OT)

The official start time for the semifinal between McMurtry College-Will Rice College and Jones College was 9:30 p.m. Monday night, but the real game did not start for another hour and a half. Facing chilly temperatures on the frozen tundra of the Intramural Fields, the game was scoreless through regulation as both teams struggled to move the ball on offense. A number of dropped passes shortened drives, and both defenses succeeded in shutting down the running games. Then, midway through the third quarter, Jones freshman running back Lilian Nwora took a toss right and ran 55 yards to the endzone, eluding a number of defenders for what appeared to be the first score of the game. However, the play was called back by a penalty on Nwora for flag guarding, which nullified the score and eventually brought the drive to an end.

With just six minutes left in the game, Jones moved the ball into the red zone on a 21-yard pass from junior Valicia Miller to junior receiver Gabi Quart. But after moving inside the 15-yard line, Jones could not punch it in, and Miller was sacked on a fourth-and-six to turn the ball over on downs. McWill threatened to score with less than a minute left when a hook-and-lateral play to junior Alex Espinoza moved the ball to midfield, but time expired before McWill got close to the endzone.

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On the first possession of overtime, Jones took over from the 20-yard line and went to the ground with Miller. The quarterback gained running yardage on four straight plays, getting a quick score for Jones with a five-yard touchdown run to take the 6-0 advantage. However, the extra point attempt was unsuccessful as Miller threw a pass just wide of her target.

McWill needed at least a touchdown to force a second overtime, but could win it with a score and the extra point. Espinoza took a left on the first play of the drive, picking up six yards on the play. After a five-yard pass to move the ball inside the 10-yard line, junior quarterback Jessi Scully threw a strike across the middle for a touchdown.

With the score tied 6-6, McWill stood just an extra point away from the title game. The team came out with four wide receivers to the right, but a pass attempt was tipped and fell incomplete, forcing a second overtime.

McWill started the second overtime with a nine-yard pass on first down, but a running play on second down resulted in a six-yard loss and forced a third-and-15. Scully dropped back to pass and eluded a rusher, stepping back and lofting a pass just before having her flags pulled. The pass was brought in inside the five-yard line by sophomore receiver Elyse Landry, who ran the rest of the way for the score.

On the extra point attempt, McWill again put four receivers out to the right, but this time threw to a releasing tight end on the left side. The ball was caught in the endzone, giving McWill a 13-6 lead and putting the pressure on Jones to answer the score.

Miller ran for nine yards on the first play of the possession, and ran outside the tackle for a short touchdown run just two plays later. With the pivotal extra point looming, Jones head coach Danny Newman called a timeout to discuss the play. Jones came out with a fullback to the right of Miller, who took the snap and ran left but was stopped one yard short of the goal line by the McWill front four. McWill ran onto the field in celebration, earning themselves a 13-12 win and a spot in the championship game.

Martel 13, Sid Rich 0

Just two weeks ago, Sid Richardson College handed Martel College its first loss in two seasons of powderpuff action, thoroughly dominating the Violent Femmes in a 19-0 shutout. But those two weeks might as well have been two years ago, because Martel handily avenged that loss with a 13-0 beat down Wednesday evening.

The two teams played a scoreless first quarter, but Martel dominated the time of possession, moving the ball into Sid Rich's red zone with an array of short passing plays. Early in the second quarter, Martel got on the board with a touchdown pass by senior quarterback Aubrey Sansing on a blocker release from the one-yard line. Martel's defense shut down the option attack from Sid Rich, carrying a 6-0 lead into halftime.

Martel's defense remained stout in the second half, intercepting three Sid Rich passes to set up their offense and keep the game out of Sid Rich's reach. On the opening possession of the second half, senior Devin McCauley intercepted a pass and returned it inside the Sid Rich 40-yard line.

However, a three-and-out got the ball back to Sid Rich as they looked to establish an offensive rhythm. Pinned deep inside their own territory, Sid Rich went to the passing game to move the ball downfield, but an interception by sophomore Jaclyn Youngblood brought an end to the drive. On the next play, Sansing connected with Youngblood in the right corner of the endzone on a 15-yard touchdown pass, putting Martel ahead 13-0 at the end of the third quarter.

Sid Rich unleashed their wildcat attack in the fourth, putting the ball in the hands of freshman Stephanie Agu in the backfield. Agu broke a long run and appeared to score the first points for Sid Rich on a 55-yard sprint to the endzone, but the play was called back after Agu stepped out of bounds just 10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. An interception by Sansing brought an end to the drive, and all but put the game out of reach for Sid Rich. Martel ran out the clock and stopped Sid Rich on one final possession before kneeling out the clock.

With the win, Martel moves on to the championship at Rice Stadium, where they will face McWill in hopes of defending their championship after Thanksgiving.

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