Tigers Concoct Miracle
By RICH GIBSONCOLUMBIANA - On a wing and a prayer. That's how Mark Holenka and his Shadyside Tigers pulled out a miracle victory Saturday night.
On their last legs and virtually out of options, the Tigers generated an unforgettable 93-yard drive in a staggering 68 seconds.
Dylan Kimble's 1-yard scoring strike to Tyler Cline capped an incredible comeback and lifted Shadyside to a stunning 19-14 victory against Columbiana's shell-shocked Clippers before a big turnout at Firestone Park.
''No disrespect to Shadyside, but they just stole one away from us,'' Columbiana coach Bob Spaite said. ''I felt we outplayed them the entire game. To lose like this, well, there are just no words to describe it.''
Holenka, meanwhile, saluted his battle-weary team which somehow found a way to prevail nearly against all odds.
''I have to give it up for my coaches. And I can't say enough about this group of kids who have no quit in them,'' Holenka said. ''We're fortunate to have some playmakers and they responded when they absolutely had to. What a football game!''
Shadyside was forced to make a dramatic goal line stand, burn all three of its timeouts, then regain possession at its 7-yard line with 1:28 to play.
Kimble, under siege a majority of the night, started by drilling Cline for a 22-yard gainer. Following an incompletion, he twice went to Ellis Brown to reach the Tigers 40.
On second down, Kimble again found Cline for 12, moving to the Clippers' 48. On the next snap, Kimble avoided a heavy rush and unloaded deep down the left sideline for Cline who made a stumbling catch, regained his balance and raced to the Clippers' 1 for a 47-yard gain.
''Give our offensive line credit for help making that happen,'' Holenka said.
A first-and-goal quick out to Brown missed the mark before Kimble's quick slant was pulled in by Cline with 20 seconds to play.
A two-point conversion failed leaving the clock at 19-14. The Tigers, however, were in no position to start celebrating.
A short kickoff set up the hosts at midfield prior to a pass interference infraction flagged on Shadyside.
From the Shadyside 38, Clippers quarterback Austin Barbato delivered a 20-yard strike to running back Grant Crider and Columbiana was inside the 20.
With 5 seconds on the clock, Barbato threw a high-arching pass to the corner of the end zone which Kimble pulled in as time expired.
''They had some success running against us, but we did not yield. We made the key plays when we had to,'' Holenka said. ''We're thrilled to be playing in Week 12.''
Kimble finished with 192 passing yards, including two TD strikes to Cline who caught seven passes for 147 yards. Nick Schuetz made his lone reception of the evening good for a 5-yard TD catch.
The Clippers had 261 rushing yards and totaled 334 on the evening. Running back Jeff Davidson delivered 114 yards on 27 carries.
The lead changed hands three times before Columbiana went ahead 14-13 early in the fourth quarter. Though the hosts dominated time of possession, they would not score again.
