Zach Siegrist goes up in traffic and hauls in a TD pass with 1:18 to go in the game to bring the Bears to within 1 point of undefeated Liberty. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Brian Bayless)
Quarterback Aiden Eviston hit receiver Colton Less on a dramatic two-point conversion pass with 1:18 remaining, lifting Berlin to an upset of previously unbeaten Liberty which came in regarded as the top team in central Ohio.
By Jarrod Ulrey
Delaware, OH – The forever-debated decision regarding whether to go for a game-winning two-point conversion or a game-tying extra point often comes down to what Olentangy Berlin coach Mark Nori calls a “gut thing.”
Faced with that very situation Friday after never having led against Olentangy Liberty, an intra-district rival off to a perfect start, the host Bears decided to roll the dice.
Moments after senior quarterback Aiden Eviston connected with senior wide receiver Zach Siegrist for a 14-yard touchdown with 1 minute, 18 seconds to go, Nori weighed the circumstances and called another pass play with his team trailing by 1 point.
Veteran central Ohio columnist Jarrod Ulrey writes the OCC and sports at large for Press Pros
On the two-point conversion attempt, Eviston dropped back under pressure from two defenders, and just before falling to the ground, threw complete to junior wide receiver Colton Less in the end zone to give his team a 22-21 victory.
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“We were just celebrating Zach Siegrist’s touchdown and heard the timeout,” Less said. “Then we realized we might need to get back out there, and we noticed we were going for two. We knew we were going to win the game off of it and that our defense could hold them after that. It’s about the concept of belief. Earlier in the week, we were having a talk, and all we said was that we needed to believe. This is what it came down to, and we won.”
Colton Less is more…as in two points more on a gutsy conversion pass from Aiden Eviston capping Berlin’s come from behind, 22-21 win over Liberty.
The choice whether to attempt the two-point conversion or kick, according to Nori, was debated during the timeout – with his coaching staff ultimately convincing him that going for it was the best option.
Berlin was on the reverse side of a similar situation last season against the Patriots when Liberty had a chance to go for two late in a tie game but ultimately chose to kick the extra point. The Bears went on to win that game 24-17 in overtime to give them their first win over the Patriots after losing the first three times the programs matched up.
Berlin and Liberty are both 3-1 after the latest nerve-wracking matchup.
“There’s a couple things that played into it,” Nori said. “Last year it was the same situation, but it worked in reverse. Last year they had an opportunity and didn’t go for it and we went into overtime. In all honesty, we kind of learned from that because they had the momentum last time. I was ready to kick the extra point, but my staff talked me into going for two and told me we had a good play. I believe in my staff. You can’t get too caught up in the moment and make a stupid move, but at the same time, you don’t want to lose the momentum.”
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After being burned in the first half by Liberty QB Andrew Leonard, the Bears defense went “Claws Up” and then dug in deep, shutting down Leonard and his offense.
Liberty scored on the game’s opening drive on a 1-yard run by junior running back Antonio Kish that was set up the play before by a 30-yard pass from senior quarterback Andrew Leonard to senior running back Jake Struck.
The Patriots took a 14-0 lead on a 5-yard touchdown from Leonard to senior wide receiver Christian Moulton midway through the second quarter, but Berlin answered with 1:30 left in the period when Eviston ran for a 1-yard touchdown.
Liberty responded with 36 seconds to go before halftime when Leonard found Moulton, who sprinted 71 yards down the right sideline to make it 21-7.
That momentum, however, was short-lived.
On the second play of the third quarter, Eviston found Less on the right side of the field for a touchdown pass that went for 78 yards to cut it to 21-14.
“People tend to call us a second-half team, but I don’t like that,” Eviston said. “We need to stop waiting around and come out and attack. We get down early and that’s now where we need to be, but we’re fighters and we’re going to get after it whenever we can and when duty calls.”
Liberty’s Ben Godwin tries to avoid the tackle attempt of Berlin defender Angelo Johnson.
Another key factor to Berlin’s comeback was its defense: Liberty never got closer than the Berlin 30 during the second half.
Leonard threw for 159 yards and two touchdowns but was limited to 11-for-22 passing overall, and the Patriots were held to 82 yards rushing.
“Obviously we’re disappointed in the loss,” said second-year Liberty coach John Sansbury, whose team went just 4-8 last season before opening this season with three consecutive wins. “That’s a good football team, but you hate to lose that way. We felt like we had them where we wanted. Their quarterback is a good player and he made a play on the run, and that’s the way it goes. Hats off to them for making that call to go for (the two-point conversion attempt). You can respect them for that for sure.”
Eviston finished with 141 yards and two touchdowns on 7-for-10 passing, and added 70 yards and one touchdown rushing.
Next Friday, the Bears travel to face another intra-district opponent in Olentangy Orange, which also is 3-1, while the Patriots will try to bounce back when they play host to 2-2 Dublin Jerome.
“With the schedule we have, to be 3-1, we’ll take it,” Nori said. “When we play collectively, we do a good job. We don’t stop fighting.”
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