Indians almost stun the Blazers

FORT DEFIANCE — A couple of big plays could have changed a Homecoming full of what might have been’s into one of the biggest upsets of the 2009 football season in the area.

Those big plays never came and Fort fell to Spotswood, 28-14 Friday night.

The Indians had a chance to take an early lead in the first quarter, but a 27-yard field goal attempt by Homecoming king Matt Barnes hit off the right upright, a sign of things to come.

Three minutes later and Spotswood quarterback Chad Williams was in the end zone for the 6-0 lead. The youngest player on the field, freshman Erin Benson, missed her first extra point attempt of the game to maintain the six point lead.

Nick Wimer added a touch for the Trailblazers in the second quarter. The ‘Blazers would score in every quarter to pull ahead.

Spotswood picked up the two-point conversion on an option pass to Zach Wade by Zack Miller in the right corner of the end zone.

Michael Cook got the momentum back to the home crowd with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Collin George that deflected off the hands of a Trailblazer linebacker.

An interception by Jacob Diehl before the half gave the Indians the ball back and all the momentum they needed to believe they could win the game.

“They played their hearts out and I’m proud of them,” Fort coach Dan Rolfe said. “We always want to win, but Spotswood is a good team. We just needed to stop them on third down more than we did.”

Fort had a chance down seven to tie up the game late in the fourth quarter.

After marching the ball down the field, making it all the way to Spotswood’s 25-yard line, Fort ran an option to the left.

Cook pitched the ball to Nate Hill but the defense was right there. Once Hill bobbled the toss, the boys in white attacked, diving on the ball and ending the hopes of the Indians.

“We just can’t make mistakes against good teams like this. We played well, but we put the ball on the ground too much,” Rolfe added.