Rebels slip past top-ranked Mavs
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
By RANDY PAYTON - Wayne County News

LINDSIDE - For the Tolsia Rebels, the memories of last year's heartbreaking loss to James Monroe in the Class AA quarterfinals were something they didn't want to revisit.

As things turned out, head coach Drew Waller's club found in itself basking in the elation of a dramatic win following last night's rematch in the Class AA semifinals.

The fourth-ranked Rebels jumped to an early lead on their opening possession and then made it stand up down the stretch, posting a 7-6 win over the top-ranked and previously-unbeaten Mavericks at a chilly H.E. Comer, Jr. Sports Complex.

Tolsia improved to 11-2 with the win and earned its first state title game berth in the school's 19-year history. The Rebels will face the winner of today's second semifinal between No. 3 Wayne and seventh-ranked Grafton for the Class AA crown next Friday, at 7:30 p.m., at Wheeling Island Stadium.

"That's a big win for us," said Tolsia head coach Drew Waller. "We played a really good football team, but I thought we were the best team tonight. We moved the ball pretty well, but anytime you have four turnovers like we did and you have a bunch of penalties, it makes it tough. I can't say enough about our defense, though. Nobody's held this bunch to six points all year, but our defense played great and our offense did enough to win the football game for us."

Tolsia dominated the game at the line of scrimmage and enjoyed a huge edge in time of possession and 282-210 edge in total offense. However, the Rebels hurt their own cause with four turnovers ­ three fumbles and an interception ­ and eight penalties for 67 yards, many of which short-circuited other potential scoring drives.

And because of the Rebels' inability to pull away, the victory didn't come without some tense moments down the stretch.

James Monroe, which finished 12-1, got the ball back at its own 12-yard line with 1:25 remaining and no timeouts. The Mavericks deftly marched to the Tolsia 20-yard line in the closing seconds, giving sophomore kicker Logan Ray a chance to attempt a game-winning 37-yard field goal.

Ray, who was 3-for-3 for the season, including 2-for-2 from 30-39 yards, was forced to try a 42-yarder instead after James Monroe was penalized for an equipment violation. His kick was wide to the right and short, giving the ball back to Tolsia with nine seconds remaining and turning the Rebel sideline into a scene of euphoria.

"The arithmetic says we came up one point short," said James Monroe head coach David Witt, whose team was eliminated in the semifinal round for the second straight season. "We've got a gutsy bunch who comes to play regardless of who we're playing, where we're playing or when we're playing. If it's a football game, they're going to play their butts off. They did tonight. We just came up a little short."

Tolsia's only score of the night came on its opening possession when quarterback Darin Parsley capped an 18-play, 79-yard scoring march with a 1-yard touchdown run at the 11:33 mark of the second quarter. B.J. Evans' PAT kick made it 7-0.

The Rebels also reached Maverick territory on their remaining first half possession, but the drive ended when Eric Martin picked off a pass by Parsley at the James Monroe 26 just before the intermission.

In between, the Tolsia defense was forced to turn back the Mavericks deep in Rebel territory after Randall Copley fumbled while returning a punt and the Mavs recovered at the Tolsia 25. JM's Jason Jackson was stopped inches short on fourth-and-3 at the Tolsia 7.

James Monroe did manage to cash in, though, after Tolsia fumbled away the second half kickoff. The Mavs recovered Brandon Stacy's miscue at the Tolsia 23 and, three plays later, got on the scoreboard when Taylor Robertson connected with Ernie Tincher on a 28-yard touchdown pass with 10:22 left in the third period. The Rebels were penalized for being offsides on the conversion attempt and the ball was moved to the 1-yard line, but the Mavs' elected to kick anyway and Ray's kick sailed wide to the left, leaving the Rebels in front 7-6.

"That got us closer, but we knew there was still a lot of football still to play," Witt said. "We just weren't able to follow it up."

Tolsia appeared to answer the score with one of its own moments later, but came away empty-handed again as a result of a fumble. Bryan Adkins' 62-yard return of the ensuing kickoff after the JM touchdown gave Tolsia the ball at the Maverick 27 and, four plays later, Evans looked as if he had scored on a 3-yard run before fumbling the ball in the endzone. But the game officials ruled Evans' fumble came at the 1-yard line and the Mavericks recovered in the endzone for a touchback.

Tolsia also drove from its own 27-yard line to the JM 10 in 17 plays on in its next drive, but Evans was stopped just shy of a first down at the 7-yard line. The Tolsia defense stopped the Mavericks on downs thanks to a sack of Robertson by Jordan Moore and Josh Trogdlon with just over 6-1/2 minutes to play and Kenny Muncy later picked off a Robertson pass and returned it to the James Monroe 30 with 2:25 left, but the Rebels couldn't get the first down they needed to seal the win. That's what set up the dramatic finish.

"We were trying to make sure we didn't give up the big play and we ended up giving up a lot in front us," Waller said. "They don't throw the ball much, but when they do, they do it well. They're a well-coached team. Fortunately, though, we were able to hang on." Tolsia was led by Evans, who rushed for 235 yards on a career-high 45 carries. The senior standout nearly as many carries (45) than the Mavericks did plays from scrimmage (46).

"Our offensive line dominated tonight and our defense played a great game," Evans said. "I'll do whatever it takes. If I have to run it 60 times that's fine, as long as we win. I'll fall over from a heart attack before I'll quit."

Jackson, who led JM with over 1,700 yard rushing coming into the contest, was limited to just 53 yards on 11 carries. Robertson added 41 yards on nine attempts.

"You have to give credit to Tolsia. They've got a nice football team," Witt said. "I said before the game that it was going to be a battle and it was. I wish them good luck next week in Wheeling and hope they bring the daggone trophy home."

As for who he'd like to see as next week's opponent, Waller said he wasn't choosy. "I don't really care tonight. Maybe I will tomorrow," he said. "You get to this point, it doesn't matter. People think there are bad feelings between us and Wayne, but I'd like to see them make it, too. I think it'd be great for the two communities."