FARMINGTON -- Back-to-back completions by senior quarterback Trey Waggle for a touchdown and 2-point conversion lifted Farmington to a thrilling 31-30 overtime victory over Maumelle Friday.
An all-out celebration erupted on senior night when Waggle hit classmate Jared Oskey for the 2-point conversion on the game's final play to give Farmington a much-needed conference win.
On the previous play, Waggle took a 5-step drop and passed to tight end Jacob Gray, who was split out to the right, for a 6-yard touchdown on third-and-goal. Waggle improvised on a play that was supposed to go to fullback Jared Oskey.
"I saw Jacob with 1-on-1 coverage on the backside with the safety with a slant so I thought I had to take the opportunity to throw it to him," Waggle said.
Oskey was the first teammate over to congratulate Waggle on the touchdown pass that pulled Farmington within 30-29 in overtime. Then the Cardinals went right back to their original play call on the crucial 2-point conversion. They came out in the same formation with slot left and Oskey lined up between the left guard and tackle. Oskey made the catch on the run at the one in front of four defenders, who were all in the end zone. None could get so much as a hand on him before he carried the ball across the plane and scored.
"We went with the exact same play call," Waggle said. "We just knew that would work."
Waggle completed 8-of-17 passes for 117 yards and had no interceptions on a night where playing turnover-free football was critical to Farmington success. Waggle credited his teammates and coaches with helping him stay cool in the heat of battle.
"They helped me stay calm in the pocket," Waggle said, also referencing insights from his older brother Brice, now playing quarterback at Northeastern State at Tahlequah, Okla.
"My older brother, his experience and his insights. I was just thinking and learning from everyone."
Oskey praised Farmington head coach Mike Adams for designing routes to get him open with wide receivers drawing defenders away from him.
"Coach Adams, he ran two slants to clear them out," Oskey said.
Senior guard Zach Newman (6-3, 305) bubbled over with joy. The realization of the senior night triumph overwhelmed him emotionally, but once it sank in he honored those, who helped make this dream come true.
"With a runningback like Caleb Williams (37 carries, 175 yards, 2 touchdowns) that hits holes hard, you've got to have linemen like me and Chuck Carlson (6-1, 330) to bulldoze those guys down. That's what we did," Newman said explaining that the absence of injured guard Sam Stevens (6-3, 300) has been tough on the offensive line.
"We're heavy on the right side with me and J.B. (Jarek Braslavsky, 5-11, 215). I'm a three-year starter and he's a two-year starter," Newman said.
Williams scored a 1-yard touchdown run to begin a Farmington rally in the last 1:42 of the first half after Maumelle opened up a 20-0 lead, a score set up by his 58-yard pass reception on third-and-five from the Cardinal 36. Half of Waggle's passing total came on that one play, but he didn't force the issue and was efficient managing the offense. Jayden Goff's interception gave Farmington another shot and backup quarterback Eric Hill checked in as a runningback. He threw a 27-yard halfback option touchdown pass to a diving Drew Sturgeon to cut Maumelle's lead to 20-14 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Gray got off an excellent punt from the Hornet 44. The punt returner fielded the ball at the five, lost his balance and was downed there. That led to Gray's safety when Maumelle quarterback Xavion Morgan had a shotgun snap bounce out of his hands with an empty backfield. He fell on the ball in the end zone and Gray covered him for the defensive score.
Gray's elation equalled that of his teammates as the celebration went on while the lights blazed at Allen Holland Field long after the last score.
"Winning in overtime on senior night in our last game on this field, that's pretty exciting," Gray said. "Our run game was ramping up the passing game."
Farmington again won the field position battle after Maumelle's free kick following the safety. Williams capped a 5-play, 65-yard drive by eluding tackles on a 5-yard touchdown run to give Farmington a 23-20 lead.
Mike Adams lauded the defensive efforts of the Cardinals, who only gave up three points in the second half prior to overtime. Daniel Wheeler's 37-yard field goal tied the score at 23-23 with 4:09 left in regulation.
"In the second half we did a good job of slowing them down," Mike Adams said. "We got some stops whenever we needed them."
Avery King's interception at the Cardinal 15 in the final minute of regulation denied Maumelle a chance to avoid overtime and Jae Woods blocked Maumelle's first extra-point kick.
"That was a little deal we added this week," Mike Adams said.
The veteran Farmington coach detected a tendency of Maumelle's Kobe Sims on film on Wednesday before the game and thought he could exploit that.
"I noticed that No. 74, their big guard, he turns outside if you give him an outside threat. We snuck Jae in there and he blocked their extra-point," Mike Adams said. "It turns out to be big. It proved to be the biggest play of the game, really."
Newman admired the courage of offensive coordinator Spencer Adams, son of head coach Mike Adams, disdaining kicking the extra-point which would have likely led to double overtime, and going for the win.
"It's really special. I'm loving that Coach Spencer Adams pulls out a good one and decides to go for two," Newman said. "Tonight's win put a feeling in my heart that I hadn't had for awhile. A few tears were shed tonight."
Sports on 10/25/2017