Rebels take revenge on Smithville, seek redemption against S. Range

A tie was broken in the game's final two minutes.
By ERIC HAMILTON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
SMITHVILLE -- Bring on South Range.
Ten weeks after the Crestview High football team suffered a gut-wrenching 17-14 loss to South Range in week 2 of the regular season, the Rebels will get their shot at redemption in week 12.
After blowing a 14-0 halftime lead, Crestview rallied for two touchdowns in the game's final two minutes to win the program's first playoff game, 28-14 over playoff veteran Smithville Friday night.
In the process, the Rebels exacted some revenge for last year's first-round loss to the Smithies.
"I feel like a huge weight is lifted off my shoulders," said Crestview coach Paul Cusick. "This is the way the seniors wanted it. Smithville got us last year, and we got some revenge tonight, and now we have a chance to do the same next week against South Range. It will be a great atmosphere -- wherever the game's going to be.
"Smithville made the plays in that third quarter, and I think we had some flashbacks from last year and got a little too nervous. But when we relaxed and slowed down in the fourth quarter, we responded."
Crestview (10-1) wins a rematch with South Range in a regional semifinal next Friday at a site to be announced Sunday.
"This is the way we wanted it," said senior defensive back Justin Coie, who sealed the victory with an interception with 30 seconds to go. "We remembered what it felt like to lose to Smithville last year, and we played with all heart in the fourth quarter."
Winning, losing the lead
The Rebels dominated the first half, rolling up a pair of second-quarter touchdowns and almost a third.
The offensive line outmuscled the smaller Smithies in the trenches, as Crestview employed a smash-mouth rushing attack.
After a scoreless opening quarter, Crestview engineered a 13-play, 71-yard scoring drive. The effort was capped by a 1-yard score by Adam Thompson, putting the Rebels ahead 7-0 with 6:44 remaining in the half.
On the Rebels' next drive, they capitalized on prime field position at the Smithville 28. On the fifth play of the drive, Zech Parker pounded out 5 yards to the Smithies' 2.
After a 1-yard loss, Jordan Reynolds connected with Parker for a 3-yard scoring strike to pad Crestview's advantage to 14-0.
Smithville bounced back with a strong third quarter, driving 74 yards in eight plays and scoring on a 12-yard scoring toss from Jace Hartzler to Cory Besancon.
The Smithies got the ball back right away, intercepting Reynolds on the second play of the next possession.
Smithville cashed in and tied the contest at 14 with a 6-yard TD run by Bobby Denning at the 4:08 mark of the third quarter.
Strong recovery
After running just six offensive plays in the third quarter, Crestview went to the ground game and kept the clock moving in the fourth.
The Rebels' defense came up big to start the final quarter as Coie stripped the ball from a Smithville runner and Andrew Goldberg pounced on the fumble, recovering at the Crestview 29.
"I think we really broke their spirit with that fumble," said Coie.
With the score still tied and time winding down, Crestview turned to Reynolds. The senior broke his longest run of the game -- a 19-yarder -- for a first down at the Smithville 42.
Six plays later, Adam Thompson gave the Rebels a 21-14 lead with a 6-yard scoring run with 1:50 remaining.
The Smithies lost 20 yards in three plays on their final drive of the game, and Coie picked off Hartzler's pass and rumbled to the Smithville 9 with 30 seconds to go.
Reynolds scored from 3 yards with 12 seconds remaining.
"I just told Jordy [Jordan Reynolds] to be patient and chew up some clock," said Cusick. "We were very methodical in the fourth quarter, and the offense responded after the defense gave us the opportunity."