Gold Edges Black In Pigskin Cliffhanger
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Ardmore Varsity Football Coaches give last minute instructions to the Tigers prior to the start of the annual Black and Gold game played at Cooper Field Friday, May 18th. (photo by Bobby Malone) |
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by Dwight Turner Interested fans and the student body of Ardmore High School filled the stands at Cooper Field last Friday afternoon, hoping to get a preview of the Tigers’ talent level for 2007. In the annual Black and Gold scrimmage, those in attendance not only got that preview, but were treated to a great inter-squad game as well. Trailing by a score of 13-7, Gold quarterback Elijah Barnes hit tailback Derrick Green in the corner of the end zone for a 40-yard touchdown pass with just one second remaining on the clock. Owen Kilmury came on to boot the extra point, sealing a 14-13 come-from-behind win for the Gold team. |
Tiger Travis Toone stops Quarterback Clay Wales (#12) in his tracks during the Annual Black and Gold Game played Friday, May 18th at Cooper Field. (photo by Bobby Malone) |
Gold got on the scoreboard first when Green rambled into the end zone on a six-yard scamper on the first offensive possession of the game. Brendan Walker converted the point-after and Gold held an early 7-0 lead.
Black was unable to score in the first two quarters, stymied by a stubborn Gold defense. Black threatened early in the second period when fullback Landon Curtis took a short pass from quarterback Clay Wales and bulled his way for 45 yards. Curtis rambled for another 19 yards two plays later, but the drive ultimately stalled. The two teams retired to the locker room with Gold still leading 7-0 at halftime.
The Black team wasted little time getting untracked in the third quarter. On its first possession of the second half, Wales scored on a 68-yard touchdown play. Kilmury, kicking for both teams, booted the extra point and the game stood knotted at 7-7.
Wales again hooked up with Curtis early in the fourth quarter. Breaking three tackles, Curtis rammed his way to the Gold 21-yard line for a key first down. On the next play from scrimmage, Curtis ran up the middle for 17 yards, setting up a first-and-goal from the Gold four. Wales put the Black team up 13-7 on a four-yard touchdown run. The point-after failed.
With time running out, the Gold team moved the ball downfield, but the drive appeared to stall at the Black 40-yard line. On the last play from scrimmage, Barnes hit Green for the tying touchdown pass. Kilmury, as noted, drilled the point after to give the Gold team the win.