West Prairie/Southeastern saw a valiant comeback fall short as visiting Unity Christian/ Mt. Pulaski broke a fourth-quarter tie with a late touchdown to hand the Cyclones a heartbreaking 44-36 season-finale defeat in an Illinois 8-Man Football Association non-divisional contest Friday night in Colchester.
WP/SE concluded its season with an 0-9 mark despite overcoming deficits twice in the second half to tie the game.
The Lions took control in the first quarter and appeared poised to pull away as the Cyclones’ offense struggled to move the ball in the period.
After taking the opening kickoff and starting near midfield, WP/SE quarterback Peyton Totten threw four consecutive incomplete passes and UC/MP would take over at the 50.
The Lions put together a 10-play 50-yard drive that took just over four minutes as running back Will Marley capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown run at the 7:40 mark. Marley also ran in the two-point conversion to give the visitors the early 8-0 lead.
WP/SE would start its next series at its own 45, but the UC/MP defense would hold to take over on downs at its own 48.
Marley broke loose on a 37-yard run down to the WP/SE 11 and running back Daniel Alwroth followed with a 10-yard run to give the Lions a first-and-goal at the one-yard line.
Running back Austin Kretzinger was thrown for a one-yard loss on the next play before Marley ran it in with 4:02 left in the first quarter.
Kretzinger then threw to wideout Noah Hynds in the endzone to complete the twopoint conversion and extend the UC/MP lead to 16-0.
Both teams would exchange possessions for the rest of the opening period with the Cyclones stopping the Lions on downs to take over at midfield with 1:38 to go.
WP/SE finally managed its initial first down of the contest to start the second quarter when Totten tossed to running back Bryson Tanner for a 17-yard gain at the UC/ MP 27.
The Cyclones would get on the scoreboard three plays later as Totten threw a strike to Clarence Billingsley in the endzone for a 16-yard touchdown with 10:15 remaining in the first half. The two-point attempt was no good to leave the score at 16-6.
The WP/SE defense would pick up the intensity on the Lions’ next drive as the Cyclones would stop the visitors on downs at the WP/SE 44 to regain possession with 6:02 left.
The Cyclones would cut into the deficit again with a six-play drive highlighted by a Totten to tight end Gannon Shipman pass play that covered 45 yards down to the UC/ MP eight-yard line.
Running back Hayden Wilcox hit paydirt with a three-yard touchdown run with 4:05 remaining in the first half, but the two-point attempt failed once again to make it a 16-12 score.
UC/MP would respond by marching 74-yards in five plays and extended its lead when Marley rambled 37 yards for a touchdown with 2:43 left in the first half.
The two-point conversion attempt failed to keep the Lions’ advantage at 22-14 which was how the first half ended.
The Cyclones took the opening kickoff in the second half and after a botched onside kick, WP/SE would start its next drive at the UC/MP 41.
On fourth-and-9 at the 40, Totten connected with Shipman once again, this time on a 40-yard touchdown toss with 10:21 left in the third quarter and then followed that with a scoring strike to Tanner for the two-point conversion to deadlock the game at 22-22.
But the tie was short-lived as Kretzinger returned the ensuing kickoff 67-yards for a touchdown at the 10:18 mark.
The two-point attempt was no good to keep the Lions’ lead at 28-22.
WP/SE would be forced to punt near midfield on its next possession and UC/MP took over at its own 11.
The Lions would march 89 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 49-yard touchdown run by Marley with 3:16 left in the third quarter. Kretzinger tossed to Hynds to complete the two-point conversion to give UC/MP a seemingly commanding 36-22 lead.
The Cyclones weren’t ready to go away though as they took the ensuing kickoff at the Lions’ 48 following an errant onside kick attempt.
Totten ran for three yards before connecting with Wilcox for a 10-yard gain at the UC/ MP 35. Following an incomplete pass, Totten hit Shipman for a five-yard gain followed by a defensive pass interference call that gave WP/ SE a first down at the Lions’ 20.
Totten then hit Billingsley in the endzone for a 20-yard touchdown with just 1:28 to go in the quarter. The two-point attempt failed to keep it a 36-28 score heading into the final period.
The WP/SE defense came up with a big stop early in the fourth quarter as UC/MP was held on downs at its own 40 to give the Cyclones the ball.
WP/SE struck quickly as Totten connected with Tanner for a 40-yard touchdown pass play with 11:22 remaining. Totten threw to Wilcox to complete the twopoint conversion to tie the game at 36-36.
The Lions went three-andout and punted the ball back to WP/SE and the Cyclones took over at their own 23 with just under nine minutes left.
The hosts marched the ball to near midfield where Wilcox broke free into the secondary and appeared headed for the endzone, but the ball popped out of his hands and UC/MP would recover at its own 26 with 5:10 to go in the game.
The Lions would capitalize by going 74 yards in six plays and regained the lead on a 38-yard touchdown jaunt by Kretzinger with only 2:28 remaining.
Kretzinger also ran in the two-point conversion to make it 44-36.
The Cyclones would threaten one more time as Tanner returned the kickoff 40 yards and following a face mask penalty against UC/ MP, WP/SE began its next drive at the Lions 36 with 2:19 left.
But the drive was halted on downs at the 29 where UC/MP took over. WP/SE got the ball back one more time following a Lions’ punt, but the Cyclones were stopped at midfield as time ran on the game and on the season.
Despite the outcome, first-year head coach Mark Benson was complimentary with his team’s play.
“Sometimes, things just don’t go your way,” said Benson. “That fumble at the end was kind of a backbreaker... it happens. But, our guys finally got salty tonight and it was great. We’ve been waiting for that kind of emotion and intensity.”
“We’re still trying to figure out how to win, but it’s a process,” Benson continued. “We had a young team, but we’re going to be a little older, a little stronger, and a little faster next year. I think the energy’s there and I’m looking forward to the offseason and getting back to it.”
WP/SE accounted for 315 yards of total offense and were led by Totten who completed 13-of-39 passes for 242 yards and four touchdowns.
Shipman led the receiving corps by hauling in six passes for 115 yards and one touchdown. Tanner finished with four catches for 81 yards and a touchdown while Billingsley finished with two catches for 36 yards and two touchdowns.
UC/MP (3-6) finished with 478 yards of total offense - all on the ground.
Kretzinger led the Lions with 220 yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns while Marley rushed for 162 yards on 11 carries and four touchdowns.
It was also Senior Night for the Cyclones in which Totten, Eli DeCounter, Keith Szabo and Cooper Toland, were honored before the game.
