Tabb and York added another chapter to their storied football rivalry Friday night.
Grant Kelchner’s 35-yard field goal as time expired capped off a thrilling finish that saw three lead changes in the final five minutes of regulation as the Tigers celebrated a 12-10 victory at Bailey Field.
After missing a potentially game-tying extra point late in third quarter that allowed York (3-5, 3-4 BRD) to cling to a 7-6 lead, Kelchner connected on a 21-yard field goal with 4:05 left in the fourth quarter that put the Tigers ahead for the first time all game, 9-7.
York responded by driving down to the Tigers’ 17-yard line where Hunter Strack kicked what seemed to be the game-winning field goal from 34 yards out to put York back on top, 10-9, with 22 seconds to play in regulation.
But Brent Hinson returned the ensuing kickoff to midfield, and a costly facemask penalty by York gave Tabb (6-2, 6-1 BRD) the ball on the Falcons’ 35-yard line with 16 seconds to play.
On the Tigers’ first play of the drive, quarterback Nick Hunter hurled the ball down the left sideline where wide receiver Antwuan Hicks made another of several tough grabs – although none were bigger – at the 11.
“We probably should have thrown it to him more, because anything close he’s catching,” Lawson said of Hicks, who finished with five catches for 92 yards and one touchdown.
After two incompletions and a false start that backed the Tigers up to the 16 with just three seconds left, Kelchner, who had never attempted a field goal entering the game, calmly split the uprights with plenty of distance to spare.
“I knew it was in as soon as I kicked it,” Kelchner said after being mobbed by his teammates at midfield.
When asked to compare the game to one of the rivalry matchups in years past, Tabb coach Matt Lawson recalled the “Ben Edwards game,” when former York star Ben Edwards, now playing at the University of Richmond, scored seven touchdowns in the Falcons’ come-from-behind 49-48 victory in triple overtime back in 2009.
“These games are always crazy,” Lawson said. “It’s just a great rivalry, but we’re really happy to come out on top this time.”
York’s defense, led by linebacker Marcus Wakelyn, who played a fantastic game on both sides of the ball, was the story in the first half, although several of Tabb’s offensive drives stalled because of penalties.
The lone touchdown of the opening half came in the first minute of the game after Deshon Jones returned the opening kickoff 65 yards to Tabb’s 16-yard line, which set up Wakelyn’s three-yard plunge into the end zone three plays later.
The Falcons’ defense set an early tone by forcing the Tigers into a three-and-out on their first offensive possession.
Tabb would get the ball back after York turned the ball over on downs and seemed to get something going after Hicks hauled in a great 27-yard bobbling catch from Hunter with a defender draped all over him.
Two plays later, however, the Tigers, facing third and short, were flagged for offsides, which dropped them into third long. On the next play, York’s Malcolm Reynolds made a great play to run down Hunter as he tried to run it to the right side. Then, on fourth and six, it was Wakelyn who stuffed Brent Hinson, the district’s lead rusher, at the line of scrimmage to force a turnover on downs.
York caught a huge break on their next offensive series. After quarterback J.R. Jordan, who left in the second quarter with an injury and didn’t return, was picked off at the Falcons’ own 20-yard line by John Atwood, Wakelyn made a touchdown-saving strip inside the five-yard line on the return before Jordan fell on the ball in the end zone for a touchback.
York, riding the legs of Chris Spruill and Jordan, would then drive to Tabb’s 27-yard line before turning it over on downs.
The Falcons would get it right back, though, after another crucial penalty by Tabb on third and short forced the Tigers into third and long. They would punt it away after Darius Reynolds chased Hunter out of the pocket for a minimal gain, which led to a punt.
York would run the clock to inside 30 seconds remaining in the half before punting it away, and Tabb kneeled it to go into the half trailing 7-0.
After exchanging punts to start the second half, Tabb finally got on the board with 2:14 left in the third quarter on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Hunter to Hicks. Kelchner’s missed extra-point prevented the Tigers from tying the game, but the junior more than made up for it when it counted most.
“A kicker has to be that way,” Lawson said. “You have to put whatever happened in the past, tee it back up and go.”
Tabb 12 York 10
York- 7 0 0 3
Tabb- 0 0 6 6
First Quarter
York- Wakelyn 3-yard run (Strack kick)
Third Quarter
Tabb- Hicks 11-yard catch from Hunter (extra point failed)
Fourth Quarter
Tabb- Kelchner 21-yard field goal
York- Strack 34-yard field goal
Tabb- Kelchner 35-yard field goal
Totals
Yor; Tab
First downs:
Rushes-yards: 44-208; 32-128
Passing yards: 27; 146
Comp-att-Int: 2-5-1; 7-13-0
Penalties-yards: 6-41; 7-65
fumbles-lost: 3-2; 1-1
Individual standouts:
Tabb
Hinson- 23 carries, 109 yards
Hicks 5 receptions, 92 yards, TD
Hunter- 7-13, 146 yards, TD
York
Spruill- 18 carries, 64 yards
Wakelyn- 12 carrries, 63 yards, TD
