Briar Cliff beats Hastings on game's final play
By Steven Allspach Journal sports writer | Posted: Sunday, September 14, 2008
Briar Cliff's Andrew Prohaska is tackled by Hastings' Trevin Stutzman, 29, and Jeff Klug, 22, Saturday at Memorial Field. (Staff photo by Jim Lee)
It was Doug Flutie's "Hail Mary'' pass against Miami and Al Michaels' "Do you believe in miracles?'' Olympic ice hockey call all wrapped into what should become Briar Cliff University football's everlasting one moment in time.
This one was the "Miracle at Memorial.''
Saturday, on the final play of the Briar Cliff-Hastings Great Plains Athletic Conference game at Memorial Field, BC answered the above question with an emphatic "Yes!''
BC quarterback Kyle Gerdes and splendid wide receiver Luke Roder hooked up on a game-winning 30-yard touchdown pass as time expired, giving the Chargers a stunning 25-24 upset of the 23rd-ranked team in NAIA football.
Briar Cliff marched 82 yards in the final 59 seconds to hand new coach Tom Rethman his first victory in a dramatic come-from-behind home debut.
On the deciding play, albeit confusing in the final analysis, Gerdes, a senior from Wahoo (Neb.) Neumann, dropped back and arched a pass to Roder, who was in the middle of three defenders near the goal line.
The junior out of Bishop Heelan leaped to make the catch in what, at that moment, appeared to be a touchdown grab.
The acrobatic 6-3, 205-pounder hit the ground in the end zone and dropped the ball.
In the ensusing seconds a host of players from both teams dove into a pile thinking there might have been a fumble.
Briar Cliff's Andrew Prohaska wound up with the football.
"I really don't know what happened,'' mused Roder, who set BC single game records with 14 receptions for a whopping 248 yards. "I thought I was really in the end zone, but I reached the ball out anyway thinking I might be a foot or so short of the goal.
"From there, it was chaos for a minute or so. All you need to do is get the ball to touch the goal line.''
Officially, Roder was given the touchdown, although field officials didn't signify touchdown until Prohaska burst out of the end zone scrum with the ball.
"I asked the officials about the delay on the call and I really didn't fully understand the explanation,'' said Rethman, "but, we'll take it. As far as we're concerned, Luke got the touchdown on the reception and there apparently wasn't a fumble.
"The officials said they just wanted to make certain they had things right.
"I think we learned how to win in this one, that's so important with the program. They never quit.''
Roder's reception and yardage totals erased previous marks by Roger Sandau and Michael Turner. Sandau twice caught 11 aerials in a game last season, in losses to Doane and Morningside. Turner amassed 189 receiving yards against Dana in 2005.
Gerdes, the triggerman, also made a huge contribution to the record-breaking triumph, BC's first over a top 25 ranked (NAIA) team in the school's six seasons of intercollegiate football.
And, in snapping a 13-game losing streak, it was just the 13th Charger victory ever.
The 5-9, 180-pound Gerdes launched a whopping 67 passes and completed 35 for 467 yards, 54 more than his entire total of last season.
The 67 attempts eclipsed by one the record of 66 set last season by Lane Claussen against Nebraska Wesleyan. The yardage total surpassed the previous mark of 405 by DJ Lindsay against Morningside last year.
Gerdes, who threw for 927 yards as a sophomore, shared quarterback duties with Claussen and Lindsay last season.
"We didn't plan to throw the football like we did, but my offensive line did a tremendous job and the wide receivers were amazing,'' reflected Gerdes. "Coach had our first 15 plays scripted and only three were passing plays,
"But, as the game wore on he said the heck with it (trying to run) and let's just throw the ball.
"I didn't get hit much at all."
The one time he did get hit proved disastrous for Hastings, which slipped to 2-1 with a game at No. 1-ranked Sioux Falls Saturday.
With 19 seconds left and BC facing a second-and-10 at its own 47, Gerdes fired incomplete, but he was drilled by two defenders and a resulting roughing the passer penalty kept the momentous drive alive.
Hastings took a 12-0 lead when Maurice Mansfield uncorked a 69-yard TD run in the first quarter and added a 17-yard TD reception in the second stanza. Roder hauled in a 20-yard pass from Gerdes to put the Chargers on the board, though, with 7:42 left in the half.
The Broncos of Coach Paul Mierkiewicz took a 21-7 lead on a 61-yard TD pass from Dayton Edwards to David Chochon and a field goal by Gavin Rodriguez made it 24-7 at the break.
The Broncos never scored again as linebackers Jarrod Makovicka (13 tackles,) and Eric Bolin (10 stops) led a ferocious defense.
BC's Julian Lee plunged a yard for a touchdown early in the third quarter and Gerdes zipped a 30-yard scoring pass to Chase Colvin, who had eight catches for 117 yards, to make it 24-19 with 6:41 left in the game.
Briar Cliff lost narrow decisions to Grand View (20-17) and Dana (17-15) in its first two outings and plays at Concordia Saturday.
Briar Cliff 25, Hastings 24
Hastings 7 17 0 0 24
Briar Cliff 0 7 12 6 25
First Quarter
Hastings: Maurice Mansfield 69 run (Troy Huebert kick) 5:13
Second Quarter
Hastings: Mansfield 17 pass from Dayton Edwards (Gavin Rodriguez kick) 12:17
Briar Cliff: Luke Roder 20 pass from Kyle Gerdes (Kevin Johnson kick) 7:42
Hastings: David Chochon 61 pass from Dayton Edwards (Rodriguez kick) 6:52
Hastings: FG Rodriquez 47, 2:04
Third Quarter
Briar Cliff: Julian Lee 1 run (Johnson kick failed) 12:07
Briar Cliff: Chase Colvin 30 pass from Gerdes (Gerdes pass failed) 6:41
Fourth Quarter
Briar Cliff: Roder 30 pass from Gerdes (no PAT attempt) 0:00
TEAM STATISTICS
Hastings BCU
First downs 14 27
Rushes-yards 36-138 30-59
Passing yards 224 475
Passes 14-27-1 36-68-2
Total plays-yards 63-362 98-534
Fumbles-lost 2-2 1-0
Penalties-yards 7-81 9-101
Punts-avg. 7-38.0 8-32.0
3d down conversions 2-14 8-21
Possession time 27:41 32:19
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Hastings: Maurice Mansfield 4-74, Nick Grummert 19-37, Ryan Sack 1-23, Troy Huebert 3-10, Dayton Edwards 9-(-6). Briar Cliff Stavhn Leavy 9-43, Dwaine Radden 6-17, David Shepard 7-14, Julian Lee 3-6, Kyle Gerdes 5-(-21).
PASSING: Hastings Edwards 14-17-1224. Briar Cliff Gerdes 35-67-2467, Chase Colvin 1-1-08.
RECEIVING: Hastings Ryan Sack 5-36, David Chochon 4-111, Mark Schmeeckle 2-21, Grummert 1-30, Mansfield 1-17, Jared Knoble 1-9. Briar Cliff Luke Roder 14-248, Colvin 8-117, Zac Kliment 5-45, Andrew Prohaska 5-37, Josh Schroeder 1-20, Lee 1-8, Shepard 1-7, Leavy 1-(-7).
TACKLES
(Solos-Assists-Total)
Hastings: Mike Cardenas 9-110, Mackenzie Hemje 4-48, Trevin Stutzman2-68, Tim Haug 1-67, Aaron Chochon 4-26, Pete Botkin 2-46, Bri Steinhauser 3-25, Jeff Klug 3-25, Jake Mueller 2-35, Lance Ringle 3-14, Riley Nikkila 2-24, Adam Loftis 2-24.
Briar Cliff: Jarrob Makovicka 6-713, Eric Bolin 2-810, Ryan Prather 3-58, Tayloer Schumacher 3-58, Cecil Milton 2-57, Brennan White 2-46, Chris Reinhart 1-45, Billy Mousel 3-14, Stedman Esene 2-13, Calvin Christophersen 1-23, Jonathon Smith 1-23.
This one was the "Miracle at Memorial.''
Saturday, on the final play of the Briar Cliff-Hastings Great Plains Athletic Conference game at Memorial Field, BC answered the above question with an emphatic "Yes!''
BC quarterback Kyle Gerdes and splendid wide receiver Luke Roder hooked up on a game-winning 30-yard touchdown pass as time expired, giving the Chargers a stunning 25-24 upset of the 23rd-ranked team in NAIA football.
Briar Cliff marched 82 yards in the final 59 seconds to hand new coach Tom Rethman his first victory in a dramatic come-from-behind home debut.
On the deciding play, albeit confusing in the final analysis, Gerdes, a senior from Wahoo (Neb.) Neumann, dropped back and arched a pass to Roder, who was in the middle of three defenders near the goal line.
The junior out of Bishop Heelan leaped to make the catch in what, at that moment, appeared to be a touchdown grab.
The acrobatic 6-3, 205-pounder hit the ground in the end zone and dropped the ball.
In the ensusing seconds a host of players from both teams dove into a pile thinking there might have been a fumble.
Briar Cliff's Andrew Prohaska wound up with the football.
"I really don't know what happened,'' mused Roder, who set BC single game records with 14 receptions for a whopping 248 yards. "I thought I was really in the end zone, but I reached the ball out anyway thinking I might be a foot or so short of the goal.
"From there, it was chaos for a minute or so. All you need to do is get the ball to touch the goal line.''
Officially, Roder was given the touchdown, although field officials didn't signify touchdown until Prohaska burst out of the end zone scrum with the ball.
"I asked the officials about the delay on the call and I really didn't fully understand the explanation,'' said Rethman, "but, we'll take it. As far as we're concerned, Luke got the touchdown on the reception and there apparently wasn't a fumble.
"The officials said they just wanted to make certain they had things right.
"I think we learned how to win in this one, that's so important with the program. They never quit.''
Roder's reception and yardage totals erased previous marks by Roger Sandau and Michael Turner. Sandau twice caught 11 aerials in a game last season, in losses to Doane and Morningside. Turner amassed 189 receiving yards against Dana in 2005.
Gerdes, the triggerman, also made a huge contribution to the record-breaking triumph, BC's first over a top 25 ranked (NAIA) team in the school's six seasons of intercollegiate football.
And, in snapping a 13-game losing streak, it was just the 13th Charger victory ever.
The 5-9, 180-pound Gerdes launched a whopping 67 passes and completed 35 for 467 yards, 54 more than his entire total of last season.
The 67 attempts eclipsed by one the record of 66 set last season by Lane Claussen against Nebraska Wesleyan. The yardage total surpassed the previous mark of 405 by DJ Lindsay against Morningside last year.
Gerdes, who threw for 927 yards as a sophomore, shared quarterback duties with Claussen and Lindsay last season.
"We didn't plan to throw the football like we did, but my offensive line did a tremendous job and the wide receivers were amazing,'' reflected Gerdes. "Coach had our first 15 plays scripted and only three were passing plays,
"But, as the game wore on he said the heck with it (trying to run) and let's just throw the ball.
"I didn't get hit much at all."
The one time he did get hit proved disastrous for Hastings, which slipped to 2-1 with a game at No. 1-ranked Sioux Falls Saturday.
With 19 seconds left and BC facing a second-and-10 at its own 47, Gerdes fired incomplete, but he was drilled by two defenders and a resulting roughing the passer penalty kept the momentous drive alive.
Hastings took a 12-0 lead when Maurice Mansfield uncorked a 69-yard TD run in the first quarter and added a 17-yard TD reception in the second stanza. Roder hauled in a 20-yard pass from Gerdes to put the Chargers on the board, though, with 7:42 left in the half.
The Broncos of Coach Paul Mierkiewicz took a 21-7 lead on a 61-yard TD pass from Dayton Edwards to David Chochon and a field goal by Gavin Rodriguez made it 24-7 at the break.
The Broncos never scored again as linebackers Jarrod Makovicka (13 tackles,) and Eric Bolin (10 stops) led a ferocious defense.
BC's Julian Lee plunged a yard for a touchdown early in the third quarter and Gerdes zipped a 30-yard scoring pass to Chase Colvin, who had eight catches for 117 yards, to make it 24-19 with 6:41 left in the game.
Briar Cliff lost narrow decisions to Grand View (20-17) and Dana (17-15) in its first two outings and plays at Concordia Saturday.
Briar Cliff 25, Hastings 24
Hastings 7 17 0 0 24
Briar Cliff 0 7 12 6 25
First Quarter
Hastings: Maurice Mansfield 69 run (Troy Huebert kick) 5:13
Second Quarter
Hastings: Mansfield 17 pass from Dayton Edwards (Gavin Rodriguez kick) 12:17
Briar Cliff: Luke Roder 20 pass from Kyle Gerdes (Kevin Johnson kick) 7:42
Hastings: David Chochon 61 pass from Dayton Edwards (Rodriguez kick) 6:52
Hastings: FG Rodriquez 47, 2:04
Third Quarter
Briar Cliff: Julian Lee 1 run (Johnson kick failed) 12:07
Briar Cliff: Chase Colvin 30 pass from Gerdes (Gerdes pass failed) 6:41
Fourth Quarter
Briar Cliff: Roder 30 pass from Gerdes (no PAT attempt) 0:00
TEAM STATISTICS
Hastings BCU
First downs 14 27
Rushes-yards 36-138 30-59
Passing yards 224 475
Passes 14-27-1 36-68-2
Total plays-yards 63-362 98-534
Fumbles-lost 2-2 1-0
Penalties-yards 7-81 9-101
Punts-avg. 7-38.0 8-32.0
3d down conversions 2-14 8-21
Possession time 27:41 32:19
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Hastings: Maurice Mansfield 4-74, Nick Grummert 19-37, Ryan Sack 1-23, Troy Huebert 3-10, Dayton Edwards 9-(-6). Briar Cliff Stavhn Leavy 9-43, Dwaine Radden 6-17, David Shepard 7-14, Julian Lee 3-6, Kyle Gerdes 5-(-21).
PASSING: Hastings Edwards 14-17-1224. Briar Cliff Gerdes 35-67-2467, Chase Colvin 1-1-08.
RECEIVING: Hastings Ryan Sack 5-36, David Chochon 4-111, Mark Schmeeckle 2-21, Grummert 1-30, Mansfield 1-17, Jared Knoble 1-9. Briar Cliff Luke Roder 14-248, Colvin 8-117, Zac Kliment 5-45, Andrew Prohaska 5-37, Josh Schroeder 1-20, Lee 1-8, Shepard 1-7, Leavy 1-(-7).
TACKLES
(Solos-Assists-Total)
Hastings: Mike Cardenas 9-110, Mackenzie Hemje 4-48, Trevin Stutzman2-68, Tim Haug 1-67, Aaron Chochon 4-26, Pete Botkin 2-46, Bri Steinhauser 3-25, Jeff Klug 3-25, Jake Mueller 2-35, Lance Ringle 3-14, Riley Nikkila 2-24, Adam Loftis 2-24.
Briar Cliff: Jarrob Makovicka 6-713, Eric Bolin 2-810, Ryan Prather 3-58, Tayloer Schumacher 3-58, Cecil Milton 2-57, Brennan White 2-46, Chris Reinhart 1-45, Billy Mousel 3-14, Stedman Esene 2-13, Calvin Christophersen 1-23, Jonathon Smith 1-23.
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