New Waterford - (Ec-cite-ment) Abnormal activity: commotion, thrilling. That is Webster definition, but at Crestview, it was a 31-yard field goal by senior kicker/flanker Cameron Reynolds as time expired to send the home fans into a frenzy. With the win, Crestview snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Raiders.
Crestview scored on a 10-yard pass from quarterback Carter Hill to Jakob Leon on their first possession to go up 7-0. After a sack of Raider quarterback Jack Dawson, and a punt, the Rebels were set up to score again when they took over on the Raiders 25-yard line. However, the Raiders defense would hold, and turn the momentum in the game.
South Range would score 21 unaswered points as they would hit paydirt on two Nick Golec 2-yard touchdown runs, and a Hunter Spitz 6-yard run. The teams would go to the locker room with South Range leading 21-7.
To start the second half, the Rebels would score on a 27-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Reynolds to cut the Raider advantage to 21-14. However, on the following kickoff, the Raiders James Nell would pick the ball up at the Raiders own 1-yard line and return the ball 99-yards down the right sideline to put the Raiders back up by 14 points.
Crestview would not be rattled as they put together two consecutive touchdown drives. The first was a 75-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Nick Robinson at the 2:24 mark of the third quarter. The second was a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end David Drinnon at 4:12 of the fourth to tie the game at 28-28. The Drinnon score was set up by a critical interception by Leon to set the Rebels up at the Rebels 47-yard line.
Leon and Corey Hill would set up the field goal attempt. Leon would catch a 29-yard jump pass, and Hill would carry the 20 times in the final two drives. Leon would catch 3 passes on the night for 46 yards and a touchdown, while Corey Hill ended the night with 30 carries for 147 yards.
Golec would lead the Raiders with 15 carries for 79 yards, and two touchdowns. Spitz would add 63 yards on 10 carries and one touchdown. The loss also snapped a 25 game league unbeaten streak.
Crestview finally beat those Raiders 31-28 on a field goal as time expired, while the Springfield Tigers came back from being down 17 points to upset Columbiana 27-24 at Firestone Park. And if that wasn't enough, the United Eagles beat Mineral Ridge 32-21 to knock off all the Upper Tier unbeatens.
In the Lower Tier, the Wellsville Tigers shocked the home crowd by knocking off the Leetonia Bears 21-6 to end the Bears unbeaten season. Western Reserve would knock off their rivals from Jackson-Milton 56-26, and McDonald would blast Sebring 69-0 to set up a showdown next week at Berlin Center between these two perfect teams.
In other games from around the league, Southern got back in the winning column by taking care of Lowellville 31-7. The loss snapped the Rockets modest two game winning streak. While East Palestine beat former Bulldog player, and now Lisbon head coach Jeremy McElroy and his Blue Devils 34-7.
Next week will be critical for all the teams in the league. No one has any room for error. A loss at this point will probably eliminate a team from league title hopes, and could crush playoff aspirations. It should be another great night in the ITCL. Good luck to all the teams!