SAC Football: Mars Hill 31, Catawba 28 OT

The officials measure the last run of the game as Eric Morman #27 reacts when he sees it is short of a first down. Nate Charest #5 watches the measurement. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, for the Salisbury Post

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By Mike London

mlondon@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Backs to the goal line, Mars Hill’s Lions made strong-willed defensive stops inside the 1-yard line on third and fourth downs to beat Catawba 31-28 in overtime on Saturday at Shuford Stadium.

“Just an unbelievable defensive stand by our guys,” said drained Mars Hill coach Tim Clifton, after his team made the stops that could lead to a SAC title. “Catawba answered the call today and showed what kind of team they have, but sometimes it’s good to be lucky.”

Michael Pinkerton’s 36-yard field goal provided the decisive points for the Lions (6-1, 4-0 SAC).

The Lions had the ball first in overtime and needed a desperate fourth-and-16 pass that netted 17 yards to move the chains and get into field-goal range. Catawba’s Calvin Hunter nearly made the tackle in front of the sticks, but Akeem Ferguson churned for the first down that changed everything.

Not long after that, the visitors denied the Indians (2-5, 1-3 SAC) on their overtime possession.

“We were just a little short,” said subdued Catawba coach Chip Hester. “Didn’t string enough drives together. Didn’t get enough stops.”

Stopping Mars Hill tailback Jonas Randolph was mission impossible for the Indians. The senior workhorse rolled up an astounding 331 rushing yards on 46 carries.

“If there’s a better back in Division II, show him to me,” Clifton said. “Catawba stacked the box against us, and he still had a tremendous day.”

Catawba struck gold on the first play from scrimmage when Jacob Charest got outside on a fake bootleg, then rifled a pass to his brother, Nate,who had raced behind the Mars Hill defense.

The 75-yard connection by the Charests didn’t stun the Lions long. They reeled off three straight touchdowns, all on accurate passes by Jon Richt.

It looked all but over after Mars Hill put up 21 unanswered points, but Catawba freshman Trey Mashore did what he used to do often for West Rowan. He turned the game with an electrifying kickoff return TD that he fielded 3 yards deep in the end zone.

“We just did what we practiced all week,” said Mashore, who staggered the last 5 exhausted yards like a marathon runner approaching the finish line. “We sealed them off and got to the side. I saw daylight and knew I had to take it in.”

Thomas Trexler’s PAT sliced the deficit to 21-14, the crowd came alive, and the Indians, who had been whipped in the trenches most of the half, started playing inspired.

“That kickoff return,” said Catawba center Daylon McAlexander, “was like a big breath of air for everyone.”

After Jumal Rolle picked off a pass, Jacorian Brown ripped off 37 yards to the MH 2. Then Jacob Charest ran for the TD that gave Catawba a 21-21 halftime deadlock.

After a scoreless third quarter, Randolph broke a dazzling 71-yard run on which he eluded Catawba safety Casey Hall, the last man to beat, with a video-game move.

Down 28-21, Catawba answered with its best drive — 80 crunching yards. Jacob Charest rumbled and stumbled for 39 yards, and Josh Wright plowed away behind a re-energized offensive line.

When Jacob Charest flipped a swing pass to Bobby Morrison to finish the drive with 8:27 left, it was 28-all.

A holding call on a long jaunt by Randolph derailed a potential winning drive by Mars Hill in regulation, and the teams prepared for OT.

When Mars Hill had to settle for a field goal on its OT possession, Catawba was in great shape, especially after Jacob Charest scrambled on third-and-6 for a first down just outside the Mars Hill 10.

Brown pounded for 5 yards. Then Wright got 4. The ball was spotted just inside the 1. Now it was third down, but the first-down marker loomed tantalizingly close.

“We needed 6 more inches,” McAlexander said.

The call was for a sneak by Charest, who appeared to make progress before bodies piled up. When they untangled, Catawba was disappointed to find the ball spotted back at the 1-yard line for a loss.

“Hard to believe we could lose yardage on a sneak,” Mashore said. “I mean, our quarterback is 6-foot-4 and 200-some pounds.”

Facing fourth down, Catawba had no interest in a tying field goal. It went for the win, but Wright ran smack into an angry wall of defenders. The ball was spotted between the 1 and the goal — shy of the first down — and it was over.

“I’m down at the bottom of those piles, pushing as hard as I can,” McAlexander said. “We just got a bad spot on third down. On fourth down, Josh was maybe 2 inches from the first. But it’s on us, not the officials. We left doubt. You can’t leave any doubt.”