Dena Bowl doesn’t disappoint for triumphant Eagles

Friday’s Dena Bowl had a little bit of everything.

After falling behind big in the first half, Northeast rallied in the second half for a 28-27 victory over Chesapeake on Friday night at Chesapeake. Backup quarterback Billy Katzenberger’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Josh Krcik with 24 seconds left completed the comeback for the Eagles, who trailed, 27-7, at the half.

“I’m speechless right now,” Northeast coach Brian Baublitz said. “We had kids doubting coaches and play calls and I told them at halftime to not point a finger at anyone, point it at me. In the fourth quarter when we started coming back, I told them I’ll take the bad times, but I’ll take the good times as well.”

Northeast (7-3) used a big play to get back in the game in the second half. Krcik, who scored the Eagles’ first-half touchdown, returned a punt 85 yards for a score that made it a 27-14 game midway through the third quarter. The defense got a stop on Chesapeake’s next possession and cut into the lead some more when Ethan Young completed an eight-play, 58-yard drive with a short touchdown run that cut the lead to 27-21 after three.

After an interception from Jayden Mason gave the Eagles the ball with a chance to take the lead, they drove deep into Chesapeake territory, but a fumble at the 1-yard line ended the drive.

The Eagles forced a punt from Chesapeake and took over at their own 45. Katzenberger completed a fourth-down pass to Bennett Diaz that kept the drive alive, then hit Diaz again for 17 yards to the 8. After an incomplete pass, Katzenberger rolled out to his left across his body and found Krcik in the end zone for the tying score. Tyleek Coleman’s extra point made the difference.