Saint Marys tops Karns City with late TD
KARNS CITY — The score was in Karns City's favor. But Saint Marys quarterback Christian Coudriet was coming back onto the field, with more than enough time on the clock.
Luke Garing had just scored, followed by Zach Kelly's extra point, to give the host Gremlins a 28-27 lead with 3:50 left in a game between two of the top teams in District 9's Large School Division Friday night.
The Flying Dutchmen had moved the ball through the air all game and the Gremlins knew what was coming.Coudriet led the Dutch on an 11-play, 72-yard drive that culminated with his 4-yard scoring pass to Carter Chadsey with 36 seconds left.The score put Saint Marys up for good in a 35-28 victory, the first-ever for the Dutch against Karns City.“The whole game, the whole season really, these guys have been so even-keeled and there's been no panic,” said Dutch coach Chris Dworek. “This was just another example.”Karns City's final drive took the Gremlins (4-1, 5-1) into Dutch territory, but Eric Booher's pass was intercepted by Collin Reitz at the 30-yard line.KC coach Joe Sherwin knew his defense would be under a lot of pressure, especially as Saint Marys' final drive began.“No doubt. With the way they were moving the ball tonight, I wish there were no ticks left on the clock when we scored,” he said. “(Coudriet) is a top-notch quarterback and we expected that tonight. We just couldn't stop it.”Coudriet completed 25 of 39 passes for 407 yards and five touchdowns.His two scoring passes to Logan Mosier (4 yards) and Reitz (30 yards) staked the Dutch to a 14-0 lead in the second quarter.The Gremlins were on the verge of giving up more points when they forced a turnover on downs at their own 7 with 1:15 left in the half.As if flipping a switch, the offense came to life. Beginning with a 24-yard run by Nate Garing, the Gremlins drove 93 yards in just six plays.Booher connected with wideout Micah Rupp for 39 yards. The former scored on a quarterback draw from eight yards out with just 16 seconds left and KC's halftime deficit was just 14-7.“That was huge,” said Sherwin, “especially with how backed up we were. It gave us momentum entering halftime.”Touchdowns from Garing (2-yard rush) and Rupp (19-yard reception) had the Gremlins tied at 21 after three quarters.Coudriet and Mosier hooked up with under nine minutes left in the game, this time for a 70-yard score that put the Dutch (5-1, 5-1) up 27-21.Dworek elected to go for two points, but the attempt failed.“We have a good kicking game, but we also have some really good two-point plays,” he said. “I thought if we go for two and get it, that would put a lot of pressure on them.”Karns City responded with its final scoring drive of the game, which covered 69 yards in 10 plays. Booher, who passed for 164 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, hooked up with Rupp for a 33-yard gain that set the Gremlins up in Dutch territory.Rupp caught six passes for 112 yards.Last Friday, the Gremlins crushed Brookville, 41-7, in a much-anticipated showdown of undefeated teams.The Gremlins may have struggled coming down from that emotional high and it may be a reason for their slow start against Saint Marys.“That could've been part of it,” said Sherwin, “but hats off to Saint Marys. They played a great game.”Saint Marys 7 7 7 14 — 35Karns City 0 7 14 7 — 28First QuarterSM — Logan Mosier 4 pass from Christian Coudriet (Coudriet kick), 8:26Second QuarterSM — Collin Reitz 30 pass from Coudriet (Coudriet kick), 4:16KC — Eric Booher 8 run (Zach Kelly kick), :16Third QuarterKC — Luke Garing 2 run (kick failed), 8:13SM — Carter Chadsey 8 pass from Coudriet (Coudriet kick), 5:36KC — Micah Rupp 19 pass from Booher (Garing run), 2:25Fourth QuarterSM — Mosier 70 pass from Coudriet (pass failed), 8:32KC — Garing 1 run (Kelly kick), 3:50SM — Chadsey 4 pass from Coudriet (Coudriet kick), :36Individual StatisticsRushing: Saint Marys, Christian Coudriet 2-9, Logan Mosier 3-2, Justin Dornisch 6-27, Matt Davis 8-22, TEAM 1-(-1). Karns City, Jayce Anderson 10-60, Luke Garing 18-68, Eric Booher 10-37, Cooper Coyle 3-24, Nate Garing 3-28.Passing: Saint Marys, Christian Coudriet 25-39-407-0. Karns City, Eric Booher 11-20-164-2.Receiving: Saint Marys, Charlie Coudriet 7-115, Tony Lewis 3-44, Carter Chadsey 8-106, Collin Reitz 2-34, Logan Mosier 5-108. Karns City, Micah Rupp 6-112, Nathan Lessner 1-14, Luke Garing 1-4, Nate Garing 2-20, Jayce Anderson 1-14.
