By John Bombatch
BEAVERCREEK — With 4th-and-goal to go from two yards out in double overtime, a banged up Beavercreek quarterback pitched to his left to Drew Nanda, who plowed in for the score to give the Beavers a thrilling 41-35 double overtime win Thursday, Sept. 14 at Frank Zink Field.
Both teams scored touchdowns in the first overtime period.
Then Lebanon got the ball first for the second OT. The Warriors drove down to the Beavercreek 15-yard line where the drive stalled out. Then the team’s 32-yard field goal try sailed wide left!
Beavercreek responded with the game-winning seven-play drive for the win.
Moments after Nanda’s score, the Beavercreek student section rushed the field and swarmed the Beaver players in a large joyous celebration.
Every time Beavercreek would score, the Warriors seemed to have an answer.
In the first half, ‘Creek’s Kaden Wenger got the Beavers on the scoreboard first with an 80-yard run through the left side of the Lebanon defensive line. Marcella Cash booted the extra point and Beavercreek was out in front, 7-0 with just over a minute left in the firstquarter.
Lebanon responded on its very next possession. The Warriors marched 85 yards on four plays, capped by an Ethan Marsh 55-yard run. After Billy Crago’s PAT, the game was all even at 7.
The Beavers jumped back in front, 14-7 when Drew Nanda took a pitch to the right and scampered 19 yards for a score. A Cash kick and it was 14-7 in Beavercreek’s favor.
Again Lebanon responded.
This time, Jake Tewart snared the ensuing kickoff at his own 4-yard line. The Warriors senior raced along the Lebanon sideline, dodged a valiant tackling effort from Cash just before the goal line, and scored.
This time, the Warriors kept on responding.
On Beavercreek’s next possession, a high snap on a Beavers punt led to the Warriors getting possession of the ball at Beavercreek’s 2-yard line.
Beavercreek linebacker Demetrius Hardamon threw the Lebanon ball carrier for a 3-yard loss on the first try near the goal line, but on Lebanon’s third try from inside the 5, quarterback Kyle Short threw a quick out pass to the left side and Derrick Allen snared the pass for a 3-yard TD.
Beavercreek took over on its own 30, and 14-, 13- and 17-yard Wenger runs enabled the Beavers to get down to the Lebanon 27, but time expired in the half.
Unofficially, Beavercreek running back Kaden Wenger finished with a season-best 250 yards rushing on 36 carries, with two touchdowns.
Warriors quarterback Kyle Short passed for 93 yards 11-for-21 passing, with a pair of TDs and a first-half interception.
Next week, Beavercreek begins Greater Western Ohio Conference East Division play with a home contest with Kettering Fairmont. Lebanon has a GWOC crossover game at home against Springfield. Both games are set for Friday, Sept. 22.
Score By Quarters
Lebanon 0 21 0 7 7 0 — 35
Beavercreek 7 7 7 7 7 6 — 41
Scoring Plays
B — Kaden Wenger 80 run (Marcella Cash kick)
L — Ethan Marsh 55 run (Billy Crago kick)
B — Drew Nanda 19 run (Cash kick)
L — Jake Tewart 96 kickoff return (Crago kick)
L — Derrick Allen 3 pass from Kyle Short (Crago kick)
B — Cody Hocker 8 run (Cash kick)
B — Sebastian Rendon 4 pass from Hocker (Cash kick)
L — Alec Koch 6 pass from Short (Crago kick)
B — Wenger 3 run (Cash kick)
L — Allen 7 pass from Short (Crago kick)
B — Drew Nanda 2 run
