H.S. Football: Doherty takes it down to the last minute
Matt Oesterle was living a lineman's dream as he quickly wrapped two big arms around the loose football and saw the officials' hands upraised to signal a touchdown.
It was the crowning moment in a tense, come-from-behind 21-13 victory for Pikes Peak No. 1 Doherty against rival Palmer on Friday at Garry Berry Stadium.
"I was crying when I came off the field after the game," Oesterle said. "That's the most excited I've ever been."
For Doherty, it was the 10th straight win against No. 2 Palmer.
"This was a hard game to lose," said Palmer senior Maurice Blackledge, who caught five passes and had an interception. "I respect them and they played a great game. But we led the whole game so to lose this is real emotional."
Oesterle's touchdown was courtesy of a sack by outside linebacker Patrick More, who caused Palmer quarterback Andre Brown to fumble in the end zone. Oesterle covered it with 46.2 seconds left.
"That's the second most excited I've ever been," said Oesterle, a 6-foot-3, 232-pound junior. "I've never scored a touchdown in my life."
He was part of an even bigger play with 1:11 left and Palmer leading 13-7. Doherty faced fourth-and-two on the Terrors' 14-yard line. That's when Oesterle, Doherty's left tackle, and Beau Kelly, the left guard, spoke up.
"They said, ‘Run behind us, coach,'" Doherty coach Matt Wibbels said.
"They're warriors and play both ways the whole game. On fourth-and-two they opened a huge hole and put us in the end zone."
Fullback Jaden Terry, who gained 95 yards on 14 carries, burst through the hole for 14 yards to tie it 13-13. Motique Morton kicked the PAT for a 14-13 lead.
That capped a 15-play, 84-yard drive that consumed 7:11 and was aided by roughing-the-passer and off-sides penalties.
"That was a trying drive for us," said Kelly, a 6-1, 220-pound senior. "Our goal was to pound it behind me and Matt all the way down the field. We're the only returning starters on the offensive line. We came together as a team on that drive. I think it'll be a springboard for us the rest of the year."
Brown completed 15-of-27 passes for 212 yards, including a 60-yard TD to Lukas Adams to forge a 7-7 tie.
"I'm so proud of those Palmer kids," Wibbels said. "They fought so hard and played a great game."
