ECS edges Gryphons in double overtime
Evangelical Christian School quarterback Brent Rooker scored on a 10-yard keeper on the first play of the second overtime and Alex Armfield intercepted a deflected pass from St. George’s as the Eagles staved off the Gryphons in double overtime, 27-20, to return to the Division 2-A state finals for the first time since 2006.
“I feel like since we’ve been here, we’ve been working on winning a close game,” ECS coach Geoff Walters said. “We won a couple, but nothing like this. I’m just so proud, and we’re so thankful that God is gonna give us the ability to go play for a state championship.”
The Eagles (6- 6) will play Knoxville Webb (10-1) on Nov. 29 in Cookeville in the championship game.
As the fourth quarter wore on, though, a return to the state title game for the Eagles appeared unlikely. The Gryphons, behind a running back tandem of Dylan Young and Chandler Loy, gashed the Eagles on a near six-minute drive to usher in the fourth quarter with a 14-10 lead.
But the Eagles defense held inside the red zone and forced St. George’s to a 35yard field goal with 5:37 remaining in the game.
ECS responded with a courageous drive behind the steady play of Rooker, who earlier this week signed a baseball letter of intent with Mississippi State. The Eagles scored on a 7-yard run from do- everything athlete and Alabama commit Walker Jones to tie the game at 17 with 1:54 left in the game.
“I couldn’t let any doubt creep into my mind,” Rooker said. “I had to know we were gonna win it from the start. That’s what I tried to infuse in our guys, to never give up. We fought back with that mentality.”
The Gryphons seemed to seize the moment in the third quarter when, on their first drive after halftime, they scored on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Young to Blake Carruth to go up 13-10. Immediately after the play, however, Walters called a timeout and told the officials that the Gryphons had used an ineligible receiver.
After nearly 10 minutes of discussion, the referees called back the St. George’s touchdown. The drive ultimately resulted in no points when the Gryphons missed a 35-yard field goal.
“What I’m so proud of about our guys,” a choked up Walters said, “is they really don’t just talk the talk. These guys walk the walk.”