SV prevails in double OT
JACKSON TWP — Forced to work overtime for its sixth win of the season, the Seneca Valley football team did not disappoint.
Moments after T.J. Holl's 3-yard run put the Raiders up by seven points in double overtime, SV's defense closed the door on North Hills.
Derek Linkenheimer sacked Indians quarterback Kindhal Taylor for a 10-yard loss on third down, leaving North Hills with a fourth-and-goal from SV's 16.
The Indians resorted to a trick play, with wideout Shawndale Jones throwing a pass into the end zone, which was batted down by Holl and the Homecoming crowd at NexTier Stadium celebrated a 24-17 win.
“This is the first overtime high school game I've ever been involved in,” said SV coach Don Holl. “This game was a season-changer for both teams. We won and basically any scenario that you look at now, we can't finish any worse than second in the conference. It guarantees us a home playoff game and that is huge.”
“Our kids showed tremendous effort tonight,” said first-year North Hills coach Pat Carey. “It's a shame one team had to lose. I thought both teams played very well.”
The high school overtime rules give both teams the ball at the opponent's 10-yard line. Both the Indians and Raiders had no trouble scoring in the first overtime, as Kevin Koch plowed into the end zone from 4 yards out for North Hills. T.J. Holl then found a wide-open Brandan Clough for a 3-yard touchdown pass for the Raiders. Chad Izenas' extra point tied the game at 17, giving SV new life in the second extra period.
But before the Raiders could start making plays in overtime, they first needed to get there.
North Hills (4-3, 3-2) had taken a 10-7 lead on Jake Seiler's 32-yard field goal with 6:26 left in regulation.
The Raiders went three-and-out on their next drive, but received one final chance, taking over at their own 46 with 2:37 on the clock.
On fourth-and-6 from North Hills' 36, T.J. Holl took a shotgun snap and rolled to his right. With two Indians defenders chasing him down and nearing the far sideline, Holl fired a pass toward the end zone. On the other end was senior receiver Max Cicero, who jumped and fought off a defender for the ball, coming down on the Indians' 1-yard line with just under a minute to go. An incomplete pass would have meant defeat for Seneca Valley (6-1, 5-1).
“You're thinking, 'Who's going to make a play in that situation,'” said Coach Holl. “There was so much riding on that play and Max deserves a lot of credit for making it.”
“That ball seemed to be in the air for such a long time,” said Cicero. “To be able to come down with that catch, it means the world to me. It was a great team effort tonight.”
Cicero's catch appeared to have set up a game-winning touchdown, but North Hills' defense stuffed Mason Dehart on first and second down, then sacked T.J. Holl on third down. With no time outs left and the clock winding, the Raiders' field goal team raced onto the field and Izenas booted a 23-yard field goal, tying the game at 10 with six seconds left.
Taylor put the Indians ahead 7-0 with his 67-yard run early in the second quarter. It was North Hills' only semblance of offense in the first two quarters, after which the team had just 98 yards of offense.
SV's offense may have had more yards than the Indians at intermission, but mistakes kept the Raiders off the scoreboard.
The team's first two drives of the game ended with fumbles and penalties also didn't help.
“Come up with a list of things that can derail drives,” said Coach Holl. “Missed assignments, penalties and turnovers, we checked 'em all off in that first half.”
SV's first drive of the second half led to points, however. Holl scampered 51 yards, setting up his own 13-yard scoring run.
The Raiders travel to Bethel Park for a non-conference clash next Friday.
