Slow seconds, long drive buries Trojans, 37-36

The Troy Trojans traveled Friday to Thompson Falls as masters of their own playoff fate. A 99-yard drive and an assist from the home field clock operator sent Troy home as the most ardent Plains Horsemen fans in Montana.

The 37-36 loss to the Blue Hawks shocked the Trojans. With a chance to clinch a playoff berth, Troy led 36-23 entering the fourth quarter. Thompson Falls quarterback Greg Wadsworth scored on a 16-yard run earlier in the frame, but the Trojans were ahead 36-30 with less than a minute remaining when Troy’s Sean Opland booted his best punt of the year. The ball rolled to the Blue Hawk one-yard line where Mason Chapel downed the ball. Troy was 48 seconds and 99 yards from the playoffs.

“I thought we had it right there,” Coach Brendan Miller said. “No way they score.”

Troy’s defense nearly won the game on the series’ first snap. Wadsworth — who finished 22-of-27 passing for 288 yards — threw a short pass that was nearly intercepted by Troy’s Pate Scott in the home end zone. With both Scott and a Thompson Falls receiver holding the ball, the official ruled dual possession in favor of the offense.

“They both fell in the end zone, but they ruled it at the one,” Miller said.

Amid the confusion, the home clock operator stopped the clock, despite the ruling of a completed pass in bounds.

“I was screaming at the official, but they got another play off,” Miller said.

Wadsworth responded with a 38-yard completion to Morgan Molzahn. After another gain of 16 yards, Wadsworth threw a 41-yard completion to McKenzie Holt, bringing the Blue Hawks to the Trojan four-yard line. Again, the clock stood still.

According to Miller, the play to Holt began with 10.7 seconds remaining. After Holt caught the pass, Miller noticed the clock had started late and showed nine seconds to go.

“I tried to get the ref to look, but when he did the clock was going,” Miller said. “He saw the clock at nine seconds and it ran to 7.7. Well, they blew the whistle and readjusted the clock to nine seconds. That’s when the ref said he blew the whistle. I said the operator is really hammering us, but the officials said there was nothing they could do.”

After reviewing the game film, Miller said the play to Holt took eight seconds. With a few extra ticks on the clock, Thompson Falls took advantage. Joe Frields caught a four-yard touchdown pass with four seconds remaining. Junior kicker Joe Lundberg kicked his fourth extra point and Thompson Falls won.

High school football games are 48 minutes, and despite Miller’s frustration with the final one, he said his team should never have been in position to lose late. The Trojans’ offense dominated, scoring on several long plays. Opland finished with 225 rushing yards and also connected with Chapel on a 65-yard halfback pass late in the first half. Scott finished with 121 total yards at quarterback.

But the Twin Towers of Thompson Falls — Holt and fellow receiver Trais Hoisington are both six-foot-four — torched the Troy secondary, finishing with 188 receiving yards between the two. Miller also said he counted 37 missed tackles by the Trojans defense.

“It was hard looking at the kids after the game,” Miller said. “It could be two years in a row that they miss the playoffs by a single point.”

Miller was referring to a one-point loss to Eureka last year. The Trojans playoff hopes now require Eureka (2-6) to lose on the road in Plains (0-7) on Friday.

While the Trojans season is not over, Miller did mention an interesting note for next year. Opland’s touchdown toss to Chapel was no fluke. Opland, a right-handed junior, ran to his left on the play. After drawing the defense, he threw across his body and unleashed a 50-yard spiral to the right sideline.

“He’s got the best arm on the team,” Miller said. “I will probably move him to quarterback next year.”

Troy hosts non-conference foe St. Ignatius (4-4) on Friday.