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Local Sports

Red Raiders stop Wyalusing in OT

By JON GERARDI, jgerardi@sungazette.com
POSTED: October 3, 2009

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MONTGOMERY - Montgomery coach Randy Boone knew that his team could throw on Wyalusing all night, but with the rain pouring down and the field nothing but mud, it became evident to him and quarterback Cody Kulago that the Red Raiders weren't going to be able to throw it.

Boone didn't worry though, and the defense and running game came through to get the Red Raiders an overtime 15-12 win to put them into a tie for first place in the NTL Small School division.

Jesse Scarborough kicked a game-winning 21-yard field goal in overtime, giving the Red Raiders their first overtime win since 1991.

Kulago only had three completions in his 11 attempts, but two were for touchdowns, including one right before time expired in the second quarter. After a scoreless first quarter, Kulago struck with a 57-yard touchdown pass to Sean Farley, who caught it, cut back in the wet grass, and broke it down field for the score.

Both teams went back-and-forth scoring in the second quarter. After Montgomery's score, Wyalusing tied it right back up and then took a 12-6 lead before Montgomery tied it back up to go into halftime.

"It was just a game where we came together mostly," Kulago said. "The team actually connected and it was a big game that we won."

Montgomery's offense sputtered on the ground throughout the game, having only one conversion of 12 attempts on third down, but Dominic Deem was a dual threat, collecting 50 yards on 10 carries and having two receptions for 20 yards, one being a touchdown with four seconds left.

It was the Red Raiders' defense though, that ultimately came through.

Montgomery's biggest stand was its final one in overtime. With Wyalusing just inches away from a score that could have put the dagger through Montgomery and taken a 6-point lead, the defensive line and middle linebackers knew what was coming and stopped Paul Hugo on a quarterback keeper up the gut.

"That was a big one, we came together," Kulago said of the defensive stand. "We knew the play they were running, they were trying to gut us up the middle like they've been doing all night and our defensive line and our middle linebackers had to step it up and jam up (Hugo) because he's a big boy, and we just jammed him up."

That stop set up the possession that led to Scarborough's field goal.

Wyalusing's entire strategy against Montgomery in the rain was simple: keep it on the ground. The Rams only attempted two passes, both in the first half, and weren't able to connect on either attempt, one of which went for an interception.

"They knew (we couldn't pass) just like we knew they were going to run the ball," Boone said. "We were all in the box, it was hard for any team to run after that first half."

The Rams totalled 145 rushing yards on 45 carries in the loss, but converted third downs to keep drives alive. Wyalusing was 4-for-9 before overtime on third down.

With the Rams approaching the red zone with under four minutes in the fourth, Wyalusing's Dennis Reeve lost a first-down fumble. Montgomery's Trevor Houseknecht was in the right spot at the right time and fell on top of it to prevent Wyalusing from getting into scoring range.

"This was outstanding, we told the kids before during practice, it's been years since Montgomery's had a two-game winning streak," Boone said. "We told them we had a chance against this team, no one predicted us to win."

 
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