Late pick ends Morrisville surge against New Hope
Football can be a game.
The emotional roller coaster that comes with momentum and good, or bad, play can slow to a halt or speed through a loop. To make it even more thrilling, or heartbreaking, those emotions can turn in a matter of seconds for teams and players.
Enter Morrisville Sept. 7 in what was the closing seconds of their home opener with New Hope-Solebury. After battling the Lions for four quarters, it appeared that the hard work was on the verge of paying off, as the Bulldogs were just a yard away from the end zone and taking the lead once more with under a minute to play.
It looked like it was go-
cruel ing to be a solid and motivating victory, but then, it happened. With no timeouts left, Morrisville committed a costly penalty that backed them up five yards. Then on second down and goal, quarterback Zach McIntyre was pressured and threw a pass that found Cody Foy.
The problem was, Foy is a linebacker for the Lions, and with a wall of blockers behind him, the path was virtually unimpeded for the 95yard trek to the end zone that sent the Bulldogs off with a heartbreaking 21-14 loss.
“They started to get down the field on us,” said Foy, a senior. “I gotta give credit to one of the defensive ends xwho provided pressure that forced the errant throw].”
“Apparently, no one was behind me,” Foy added. “I’ve been playing since I was 5 years old and never got a touchdown.”
The play ended what was otherwise a rather good night for Morrisville, which churned up its potent running game for the second straight week and led for most of the contest before the nightmarish play.
After knocking off George School, 34-14, in the season opener and looking rather
impressive in the process, things weren’t quite as strong against NH-S, but still easily enough to start off 2-0 heading into the heart of the Bicentennial Athletic League (BAL) schedule.
“A couple key mistakes on third [down] and short,” said Morrisville coach Bill Quill. “We had no other timeouts, so we had to get something done there.”
The Bulldogs marched down the field in the closing minutes of the contest behind the outstanding efforts of senior running back Jimmie Miller. He set the tone of the drive with a 61-yard scamper that put his team in position, and then was the go-to guy as Morrisville pounded down to the 1 yard line.
With lineman Donald Kinslow serving as the kickoff man while the Bulldogs normal placekicker nursed an injury the past two weeks, the option of kicking a field goal was hampered and forced Morrisville, which has yet to attempt an extra point this year, to try and reach the end zone. New Hope’s defense got stout, though, and forced the crushing turnover when it needed it most.
“It’s a real motivation changer for the whole season,” said Connor Hayden, the Lions junior quarterback who also plays safety.
Hayden was one of the forces that drove NH-S’s efforts in the win. While he did throw two interceptions, one of which led to a Bulldogs touchdown, Hayden was 7-for-11 with 86 yards through the air. He was even more damaging, though, with his feet, as he carried the ball 16 times for 77 yards and scored both of the Lions touchdowns in the process. One capped a 75-yard drive that momentarily gave the Lions the lead, while the other tied the game with 4:45 to play in the contest. He also converted several fourth down plays on quarterback dives and counter runs.
“We came in slow and sloppy,” Hayden said.
“This was the first league game. It’s important for the playoffs.”
The Lions churned out 114 yards on the ground, which was also thanks to Joseph Dwight’s 26 yards and Tyler Nangle’s 21. Kevin Jarrett led the way receiving wise with 41 yards on three catches, while Dwight also had three receptions for 37.
Yet, NH-S was outgained by Morrisville, which saw McIntyre complete just one pass but still help orchestrate the offensive ground attack. Miller led the way with 19 carries for 172 yards, while Zjamir Ibezim added 45 yards on seven attempts and Raimy Valdez another 12 yards.
Morrisville struck first on the night thanks to a threeplay, 40-yard drive that was capped by a great 32-yard scamper by Miller on third and short to reach the end zone. The Bulldogs failed on their two-point conversion attempt, however, which allowed the Lions to go ahead when they scored their first touchdown nearly four minutes later.
Trailing, 7-6, with 42.5 seconds to play in the first half, though, Miller had an answer. A nice kickoff by New Hope’s Danny Sutton went for naught because of Miller, who would up finding a seam on the return. It looked as if it still wasn’t going to amount to much, but Miller managed to cut across the field and avoid tackles in doing so. A few blocks later, and he was off to the races in a 92-yard touchdown return.
That gave Morrisville a 14-7 lead, but proved to be the last points the Bulldogs would score. By game’s end, both teams had committed four turnovers and six penalties, but Morrisville’s seemed to come at the more inopportune times and be more costly.
“Penalties killed us,” said Miller. “You get penalties in a game, you turn the game over.”
Even so, the Bulldogs had one last chance to pull off a comeback. After the interception return by Foy, NH-S tried to avoid allowing Miller to return the ensuing kickoff, but would up booting the ball out of bounds twice. On the third try, Miller got his chance and took the ball to the Lions’ 49 yard line.
Valdez, a running back and linebacker, proceeded to get a chance to throw the ball down field, and found Miller for a 25-yard reception. On the last play, though, McIntyre was again pressured and unable to complete a long heave that still would have taken a catch and run to reach the end zone.
“This builds character here,” said Quill about the loss.
Both
the
Bulldogs
and Lions are now 1-1, as New Hope was shut out by Conwell-Egan, 28-0, in the sea- son opener Aug. 31. The Lions will now trek to Bristol for a BAL showdown Sept. 14, while the Bulldogs will try to rally on the road against Lansdale Catholic.