Major Disappointment

  The Gannon Golden Knights had just kicked a field goal to take a 10-7 lead in overtime and now the Bloomsburg offense began their drive at Gannon’s 25-yard line.  The Huskies lined up for their first play and at the snap quarterback Dan Latorre turned to make a handoff, but instead faked it and kept it himself, running up the middle.  As he broke through the line, he was hit by lineman Randy Colling, causing Latorre to lose possession of the ball.  As the ball landed on the turf it was pounced on by defensive back Khayree Connors McChristian, ending the game and crushing BU’s playoff hopes.  Latorre admitted, “I didn’t see the guy [Colling], but once I saw the ball on the ground I knew it was trouble.”

            Coach Hale said, “The play was there, but the nose guard came free and stripped the ball.”           

            Both teams got off to a slow start at the beginning of the game, although Gannon was able to drive far enough into BU territory to attempt a field goal on their first drive.  The 48-yard attempt by kicker Jeremy Ditzler came up very short, but the three following drives all ended in punts, two by the Huskies and one by the Knights. 

            Bloomsburg caught a break early in the second quarter when linebacker Mike Varanavage sacked Gannon’s quarterback Zach Boedicker and forced a fumble, recovering it himself at GU’s 22 yard line.  Two rushes by running back Kenny Domzalski brought about a third and one, but Gannon’s defense tightened up and held running back Derrick Price to no gain.  Instead of kicking the field goal, Bloom decided to go for the first down, but were unsuccessful as a few Golden Knights chased Latorre into the backfield on the play, forcing a fumble which they recovered and returned to their own 30 yard line.  Latorre noted the defense did an “excellent job of stopping the play” as they denied a continuation of the drive which may have led to the Huskies putting points on the scoreboard.  Hale commented, “It was a big play for us not to convert there.  We stayed with the play that was initially called; we should have switched out of it or burned a timeout.”

            Linebacker Anthony Smith explained, “Anytime you aren’t able to convert on a fourth and short it swings momentum towards the other team.”

            With just a few ticks remaining in the second quarter, Ditzler attempted a much shorter field goal from only 29 yards, but again missed, leading to a scoreless first half for both teams.  At the half, Hale told the team, “The offense needs to kick it into gear, we need to get a good kick return and put the ball in the end zone.”

            The speech by Hale seemed to bring some life into the Huskies as they did exactly what he told them they needed to.  Running back Brandon Real returned the opening kickoff 62 yards to the Gannon 28 yard line.  Four plays later, Latorre connected with receiver Cory Stiger over the middle on a nice crossing pattern, and shaking off a defender, Stiger was able to scamper into the corner of the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown. 

            With a little over three minutes left in the third quarter Bloom punted from deep in their own territory, but kicker Jon Koenig was unable to get much on the punt which only traveled 19 yards, giving Gannon possession at the BU 28 yard line.  The Golden Knights wasted no time in putting the ball in the end zone as a Boedicker pass went for 25 yards before he scrambled in from three yards out.  The extra point by Ditzler tied the game at 7.

            Gannon would again find themselves in field goal range with three minutes left in the game, but Ditzler missed his third field goal of the day  from 41 yards, and gave the Huskies new life. 

            The Huskies would move the ball down the field as time was running out on the clock, and eight plays and 49 yards later found themselves at the GU 28-yard line.  As time expired, Koenig booted the ball towards the uprights, but a defender was able to break through the line and partially block it, sending the game into overtime.