Model falls to Sonoraville in overtime
♦ The Blue Devils drop their season opener in OT after a missed field goal at the end of regulation.
The Sonoraville Phoenix won their season opener 20- 14 Friday night over the visiting Model Blue Devils after a flag-filled first half gave way to a wild finish late in the fourth quarter and into overtime.
After a penalty-plagued first quarter, the first score of the game came when Sonoraville quarterback Brady Lackey connected with running back Zach Lyles on a long pass to move the Phoenix inside the Model 20. Two plays after that Lyles punched in the touchdown. The extra point set the score at 7-0 with 5:26 left in the half.
The Phoenix defense again forced a Model punt on its next possession, but then Model’s defense put the Blue Devils on the board after a high snap sailed over Lackey’s head and Model’s Luke Holtzendorf scooped up the loose ball and scored a touchdown. A flag on the extra point attempt was waved off and the score was tied at 7-7, where it would stay until late in the third quarter.
After trading a pair of fumbles early in the third quarter, the Phoenix went on to score the go ahead touchdown on a drive where they converted two separate fourth down attempts, scoring on a Lackey touchdown pass to Lyles. The extra point settled the score at 14-7.
The Blue Devils rallied back on their next possession though, putting together a 64-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass from QB Sam Silver to Ben Estes. The extra point tied the game at 14 with less than five minutes to play.
Model defensive back Dillon Silver would pick off a Lackey pass on the next possession and return the ball back to the 45-yard line. The Blue Devils then drove down to the 1-yard line and called a timeout with one second remaining, appearing to have set up the game-winning field goal.
The kick, however, doinked off the left upright, sending the game into overtime. In overtime, teams start with the ball on their opponent’s 15-yard line.
Model’s offense took the field first, and Silver scored on a 17-yard run play that was called back due to a block in the back penalty. The Blue Devils ultimately went three-and-out.
Sonoraville then took the field and appeared to score on a long run by Lyles, with the line judge signaling touchdown but the referee overturning the call and placing the ball at the 1. Lackey powered in the ball to secure a 20-14 win on a QB sneak.
The Blue Devils will cross the state line to battle the LaFayette Bulldogs in LaFayette, Alabama, next Friday, Sept. 11, at 8:30 p.m. ET.