Monday, October 20, 2008
By Tom Williams
The Tigers defense came to the rescue to end the Leopards unbeaten streak.
LIBERTY — Facing elimination of their postseason dreams, Howland’s defenders engineered a last-minute turnover to ruin Liberty’s unbeaten season.
Trailing 10-6, the Leopards were driving in Tigers territory when middle linebacker Trevor Russell smacked Leopards quarterback Anthony Cleveland from behind as he was throwing.
Defensive lineman Kyle Stan intercepted the wobbly pass, rambled about 15 yards then fumbled after he was hit. Linebacker Matt Chambers recovered the ball, preserving the Tigers’ must-win.
“This is huge — it was a must-win,” said linebacker Tyler Scott who intercepted Cleveland twice to stop two Liberty scoring threats. “We had to play hard the whole game.
“They are a good team [so] our confidence is very high now,” Scott said.
After dropping three of their first four contests, Howland is rolling.
“We’ve come along since we were 1-3,” Howland coach Dick Angle said. “We back in the playoffs. I know that game puts us in the playoffs.”
The Tigers (6-3) were ranked No. 6 in this week’s computer playoff ratings for Division II, Region 5.
Liberty (8-1), the second ranked Div. III team in the state in this week’s Associated Press poll, is number three in Region 9.
The Tigers’ top priority was trying to contain Liberty running back Fitzgerald Toussaint, who finished with 129 yards on 32 carries.
“Our game plan was to not let Fitz get the ball,” said Howland running back Dante Marsh, who finished with 178 yards on 26 carries. “And the only way to not let him get the ball was to get a first down.
“Coach [Angle] said that every first down was three minutes that he didn’t touch the ball,” Marsh said.
Scott agreed.
“He’s a great back and he’ll take it anywhere,” Scott said.
Marsh’s biggest run came during the Tigers’ last drive. On third-and-7 from the Howland 23, Marsh shed several blockers to ramble 56 yards.
“Our line blocked very well,” said Scott, who also plays tight end. “Dante ran possessed today. When big games come, he seems to run harder and harder.”
Tigers kicker Eric Albani, whose 28-yard field goal provided the only points in the first half, had a second try after Marsh’s long run.
But Liberty’s Jamon Wagner blocked the 25-yard attempt, giving the Leopards their final possession with two minutes to go.
“We played physical and we were aggressive,” Liberty coach Jeff Whittaker said.
“Our defense had their backs to the wall several times and did a great job keeping them out of the end zone.
“We had some critical mistakes,” said Whittaker, citing four turnovers and penalties. “In a tight ball game like this, you just can’t turn the ball over.”
Howland’s offense dominated play in the first two quarters.
“The first half, they never had the football,” Angle said. “We kept it 14-15 minutes and we were disappointed that we came away with just three [points].”
Both teams’ touchdowns came in the third quarter.
Scott’s second pickoff and return to the Liberty 25 swung momentum to Howland. Eight running plays later, quarterback Matt Preston fell into the end zone on a fourth-and-goal play from the 1 for a 10-0 lead.
One minute later the Leopards were back in the game when Antonio Kinard broke through the Howland line for 58-yard touchdown. Matt Britton’s extra-point kick was blocked.
williams@vindy.com