ASHLAND, Ohio – Ashland kicker Bryce Stormer never lost his cool.
Unfazed after Mansfield Senior blocked his extra point attempt late in the fourth quarter, Stormer booted a 31-yard field goal with 1:43 remaining, and the Arrows celebrated Homecoming with a 25-21 win over the Tygers on Friday night at Community Stadium.
“It all just came down to everybody just doing their jobs,” Stormer said of his go-ahead field goal, which gave the Arrows a 23-21 lead. “It all came together, and we got it off.”
Stormer said he was a little nervous during the play but knew his team would make corrections and execute the blocking scheme.
Ashland coach Scott Valentine agreed.
“It’s a team game, and some nights the offense is on, and some nights the defense is on, but we have to complement each other,” Valentine said. “And special teams tonight, you can’t talk enough about Bryce Stormer and his kicking.”
The field goal was set up by a 37-yard pass from Grant Denbow to Ryan Gray, which put the Arrows in field-goal range.
“We had guys keep making plays as the night went on,” Valentine said. “So I’m really proud of our kids for that.”
Wild Fourth Quarter: Trailing 14-7 early in the fourth quarter, Ashland (5-1, 2-1 Ohio Cardinal Conference) punted and pinned Mansfield Senior (4-2, 2-1 OCC) deep in its own territory. A few plays later, Arrows’ defensive end AJ Beer recovered a Senior High fumble in the end zone for a game-tying TD.
On their next possession, the Arrows made another trip to paydirt, as Cole McQuate, who was named Ashland’s Mr. Football before the game, ripped off a 36-yard run to put his team up by 6 points.
Having blocked the PAT after that score, Mansfield Senior promptly answered.
With 3:35 left, quarterback Brandon Swindall found sophomore receiver Jornell Manns open for a 44-yard pass and catch. And after hitting their PAT, the Tygers were up 21-20.
“At the end of the day, you have to give that team over there some credit too,” Mansfield Senior coach Chioke Bradley said of Ashland. “They played some good football and made plays when they needed to make them.”
For the third consecutive game, the Tygers were hit with double-digit penalties, which Bradley said he told his team the previous two weeks would hurt them in a situation such as the one his team faced Friday night.
“In a game like this, you have to limit those types of mistakes,” Bradley said. “On the road in a hostile environment against a pretty darn good football team, you have to limit the mistakes in all three phases – special teams, offense and defense as well.”
Stats: Despite the loss, Mansfield Senior totaled more yardage than Ashland, finishing with 267 yards – 168 of which came through the air.
Swindall completed 15 of his 26 passes and tossed two TDs. Manns caught seven of those balls for 103 yards.
On the ground, the Tygers were led by Brian Benson, who finished with 75 yards and a score, and Tyquan Vickers, who added 37.
Marvin Parker also caught a TD pass for Mansfield Senior, while Lorenzo Brown grabbed an interception.
Ashland finished the night with 203 yards of offense. Denbow was 4-for-13 passing and rushed for 56 yards to top the Arrows.
McQuate finished with 38 yards on the ground, and Lonzo Dampier added 37 and an 8-yard run off tackle for the Arrows’ first score of the night.
“We’ll see where we’re at, but I think that was a big win for our kids, and I’m happy for them,” said Valentine, adding that his team is still in the hunt for the OCC title.
Both teams will continue league play next week as Mansfield Senior hosts West Holmes, and Ashland travels to Orrville.
