Rams still feel pain of PIAA loss
working up a pretty good lavish.
“I think some memories were made that night that haven’t been replicated.”
Clair Altemus, then Pine-Richland’s coach, said, “It was amazing how well that game was played in those conditions.”
The game went into double overtime, one of only two championships in PIAA history that have lasted two overtimes. In high school overtimes, each team gets a possession from the 10-yard line. If the game is still tied, the process is repeated. The blow to Pine-Richland’s gut came in the second overtime. Manheim Central had scored on its possession of the second OT to make it 39-32. On Pine-Richland’s possession, Greg Hough scored on a 1-yard run to make it 39-38.
Then came a thud. That was the sound when Manheim Central’s Shawn Wilt broke through and blocked Pat Humes’ tying extrapoint kick. Game over. Dreams crushed. Post-Gazette photographer Matt Freed snapped a famous picture after the kick of Pine-Richland lineman Jim Fawcett, with his head in his hands, face down in the snow, with the scoreboard behind him. The picture won awards and is in the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum at the Heinz History Center. Walker said the photo is well-known among former players.
Despite the painful outcome and despite not wanting to ever watch a replay, Walker considers it an experience that no one on either team will forget. He called playing in the game “a blast.”
“It’s as memorable and right up there with some of my favorite and highlyrated pro baseball moments,” said Walker. “There were so many variables that went into making that game. It was the first time in school history that we played for a state championship. Obviously, the weather was a big factor. I still remember them cleaning off the hash marks during the game. It was crazy. But I remember there were hardly any turnovers in the game and we both threw the ball pretty effectively.
“The thing is, I remember everything about that game, so many plays. I remember everything from a fourth-down play where Manheim tied the game to where I just missed knocking down a ball on a play. I can still feel the ball going past my fingertips. I remember stuff from that game more than I remember stuff two years ago in baseball.”
Walker finished that game with two receptions for 45 yards, 31 yards rushing on four carries and a team-high nine tackles. His 31-yard reception from quarterback Jake Long set up Humes’ 35-yard field goal, which tied the score with 1:01 left. Walker scored Pine-Richland’s first touchdown in overtime on a 7yard run. Moments later, Hough, who had missed much of the season with a torn triceps, scored in the second OT and it looked like a third extra period would be needed. Then came the blocked kick.
Altemus retired as Pine-Richland’s coach after the 2012 season. He enjoyed plenty of success in his years and still lives in Gibsonia near Pine-Richland. Fourteen years later, Altemus looks back and wishes he could have a do-over, and it involves Walker.
“It haunts me,” Altemus said of the blocked extra point. “If I had to do it again, I would’ve put Neil in the backfield, dotted the ‘I’ with him, pitched the ball to him, he would’ve scored the two points and we would’ve won.
“I think I blew that game and that’s what I’ll take to my grave. I should’ve banged a timeout and said, ‘the heck with this. We’re going for two.’ I had gone for two my entire life. But I froze. I guess it was cold enough that I froze.”
Like Walker, Altemus refuses to watch a replay of the game, even though he has a DVD of it at his home. Altemus might be way too rough on himself, but his feelings are real. He still remembers Walker standing up on the team bus on the way home the following day and telling the team they should be proud for the season — and playing in that most memorable game. Walker and Altemus plan to watch Pine-Richland’s game against St. Joseph’s Prep Saturday on television.
“I’m proud as a peacock about those kids on that [2003] team,” said Altemus. “They busted their gut every day and we had some great leaders on that team. If you’re going to write a story on this team and that game, please make sure you mention how proud I still am today of those kids.”