Woodstock
Luc Issa’s last-play pass to Brendan Schwartz covered 30 yards from the Woodstock 9-yard line, and for a moment, it appeared the junior tight end might outrace a trio of Otter Valley defenders as they all headed toward the right sideline.
Hunted down by the pack, Schwartz lateraled to teammate Alex Blaiklock, who attempted to cut back inside.
Instead, Blaiklock slipped, landing hard and finalizing the Otters’ 38-36 victory.
So ended an 8-2 season for second-seeded Woodstock, which appeared in a state semifinal for the 19th time in program history. Third-seeded Otter Valley (8-2), the defending state champion, avenged a 41-14 loss to the Wasps during the regular season, the Otters’ first home defeat in four years.
Woodstock played without starting running back and cornerback Bill Wood, a senior whom athletic director Justin Wardwell said was out because of a concussion.
Wasps coach Ramsey Worrell was not available for comment after the game.
Otter Valley quarterback Tyler Rowe completed 25 of 40 passes for 399 yards and three touchdowns and had a pass intercepted. Conor Mackie caught two passes for two touchdowns and 63 yards. William Ross caught 10 passes for 151 yards, and Tyson Cram hauled in six throws for 99 yards and a touchdown.
Woodstock’s Issa completed two of four passes for 57 yards and a touchdown. Ezra Astbury ran 32 times for 182 yards and two touchdowns. Daniel Robinson carried 18 times for 132 yards.
The Wasps led, 14-0, after nine minutes and by scoring on their first two possessions. Robinson ran for an 8-yard touchdown and Ezra Astbury ran for a 10-yard score, and it appeared the Otters had no answer for Woodstock’s ground game.
The visitors got on the board with a 2-yard scoring pass that capped their second possession and pulled them within 14-6 with 56 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Woodstock maintained its momentum, however, taking a 20-6 lead when Issa threw 27 yards down the middle to Robinson two minutes into the second stanza.
That period, however, mostly belonged to the Otters, who forced Woodstock to punt twice while scoring themselves on runs of 5 and 17 yards and taking the lead into halftime at 26-20 on another 12-yard touchdown pass.
Otter Valley pushed its advantage to 32-20 during the second half’s opening possession, using a 12-yard scoring pass. The teams exchanged punts before Woodstock drove from its 22-yard line to the Otters’ 18, where the march petered out and the visitors regained the ball on downs.
The next play, however, saw Rowe throw a slant to Ross, who bobbled the ball and watched it carom into the hands of Schwartz, who ran 22 yards for a touchdown. Astbury bulled in for the 2-point conversion and the hosts were back in business, down 32-28 with 31 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Had Woodstock come up with a stop here, the game might well have swung in its favor. Instead, the Otters needed only 36 seconds to answer with a 51-yard touchdown from Rowe to Mackie up the left sideline and over Blaiklock, the Wasps’ cornerback. The conversion kick attempt sailed wide but Otter Valley led, 38-28.
The Wasps next turned the ball over on downs for the second time in three possessions. Otter Valley soon punted, however, and Astbury capped a 10-play, 55-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. Caden White ran in for the 2-point conversion and Woodstock pulled within 38-36, but with only three minutes remaining.
The hosts attempted an onside kick that was recovered by Otter Valley. The Otters then ran six plays and advanced to the Woodstock 37-yard line before punting and setting the stage for a final play that brought the crowd to its collective feet. Key to extending the visitors’ drive was a late-hit penalty called on Micah Schlabach, who slammed into a prone Ross. The receiver had caught the ball, but it came loose just before or just after he hit the ground.
Notes: Woodstock’s last state title came in 2013, which was its third consecutive crown. … Former Wasps star Ed Doton attended the game. Doton is a junior tight end at Castleton University (3-5), where he’s caught nine passes for 146 yards and a touchdown. … Woodstock assistant coach Zack Scott wore shorts despite temperatures that dipped in to the upper 20s late in the game. … Otter Valley played in a state semifinal for the fourth consecutive year.