An Island Adventure
Saturday, November 28, 2009
By MIKE MATHISON- The Herald Star
It came down to one play.
For all the big plays the Madonna football team made through the first 12 weeks of games, the chance of playing in the 14th contest came down to a simple fourth-and-1 from Wheeling Central's 17-yard line.
Although, it wasn't so simple with 2:28 left in the game, clinging to a 12-7 lead.
"We've had a few of those this year, but none that important," said Blue Dons coach Bob Kramer. "Max (Nogay) said he wanted the ball. When somebody says they want the ball and the kids say 'we'll get it for him' you have to go with the kids.
"They're the ones who are out there busting their butts doing the job. Whatever they felt confident in that's what you have to go with."
Nogay picked up that yard and, 74 seconds later, scored from the 1 as the Blue Dons defeated the Maroon Knights, 18-7, Friday night at Jimmy Carey Stadium in the West Virginia Class A semifinals.
That gives Madonna a 13-0 record and the chance for that elusive perfect season one week from tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Wheeling Island Stadium in the state title tilt. The Blue Dons will play the winner of tonight's game between Richwood and Man.
"Every big game comes down to one play," said Max Nogay. "Our offensive line played a magnificent game."
Wheeling Central, down 12-7 and with all of the momentum, held the hosts to a three-and-out after Zach Hood teamed up with Jordan Sorge on a 45-yard touchdown pass to pull to within 12-7 with 10:52 left in the game.
But, Sorge muffed the punt and Madonna was in business.
The Blue Dons were given a gift and didn't open it. Three minutes later A.J. Klein was stopped on a fourth-and-5 from the 13 and the visitors took over.
After holding Wheeling Central, Madonna got the ball back with 5:20 left in the game on its 44-yard line.
A few plays later the Blue Dons were handed another gift when, on third down, Jimmy Deter watched a pitch hit the ground and, after a perfect bounce, gobbled it up to retain possession. But, as he was ridden out of bounce, the Wheeling Central defender was flagged for a face mask penalty and Madonna was about to open the second gift - a re-gift, if you will.
"I just had to get on the pitch and salvage the play as best I could," said Deter. "My eyes got huge. As soon as the ball was rolling I knew I had to get on it or something bad was going to happen. I was lucky enough to get the bounce that we needed and lucky enough to get the penalty on the sideline to keep the drive moving.
"The fourth-and-1 was the play of the game. I told the linemen that we've been practicing for four months and all we need is one inch. That's all we needed and they did a great job. The line won us this game tonight - the line and Max Nogay."
Madonna's mantra all year long has been the old cliche - one game at a time.
That wasn't easy this week knowing it was nemesis Wheeling Central with a state title berth on the line.
"It was very hard trying to treat this as just another game," said Lou Comis. "This is a huge rivalry. We've played these guys since grade school. We knew it was going to be a tough game. I'm just so happy. This is awesome.
"It was a team effort."
"We prepared for it as just another game," said Grant Weaver. "Coach Kramer told us it was just another team and this is just another game. We prepared for them as best as we could and this was the outcome."
"We kept focused all week and got it done tonight," said Christian McGaughey. "Our O-line came together and we got it done."
"We respect them and I hope they respect us," said Nick Nero. "We did the best we could to stop them and we pulled it off at the end. This was a really big game for us and it was a great victory for us.
"We wanted it to seem like it was just another game, but we knew in our hearts that we needed to win this one.
"This game decided if we were worthy of being in the state championship game."
"It's an indescribable feeling to get the chance to go back there two years in a row," Michael Kranak said of playing at Wheeling Island Stadium. "It's awfully special to be a part of it this year.
"This win may be big, but a win next week would be even bigger.
"You hear all the hype about Wheeling Central, but to be able to put it aside and just go out there and play was big for us."
Madonna's defense, ranked No. 1 in the state in all classifications, held the mighty Maroon Knights' running attack to 99 yards on 31 carries.
"Wheeling Central is a great team and they played hard, but we have the No. 1 defense for a reason," said Seth Gianessi.
"We just came out to play," said Eddie Nogay. "It's a big game and they're a big rival for us. But, we were confident throughout the whole game and got it done.
"We've been able to stop the run all year. We have great linebackers, great defensive linemen. Our secondary covers well and forces them to run.
"We did a good job."
