Overton stuns Wildcats, 26-20

BIG SANDY — Coach Ty Robinson's Overton High School Mustangs broke free of the winless corral with touchdowns by running back Jacoba Gardner, quarterback Telvin Darden, and two by running back Teray Smith to break a tie for a 26-20 victory over the hosting Wildcats.

The win, after two near misses against Ore City and Union Grove, is Robinson's first at Overton (1-2 this season).

The 'Stang defense successfully stonewalled a fourth-down conversion play by Big Sandy with 28 seconds on the clock to guarantee the win.

The Mustangs will come home this Friday to — well, celebrate homecoming. Union Hill will be their opponent.

For almost half the game at Big Sandy, both teams were scoreless until the Mustangs, in their fifth possession with less than two minutes before halftime, recovered a Josh Howe fumble at Big Sandy's 46-yard-line. Darden completed a pass to John Michael Florey to the 41, and then Florey made a ground attack through the middle to the 21. Teray (pronounced Tah-Ray) Smith found room at the 10. Gardner finished the drive with a touchdown and kicker Robert Gonzales toed the point after to give Overton the 7- 0 advantage.

Overton opened the second half with their second scoring offensive, beginning with a surprise onside kick recovered by defensive back Draze Kennedy on the Wildcat 47. Garrett Williamson gained a yard, then Darden made a left turn to the 35. Smith added 4 yards. Gardner staked a claim on the 22-yard-line, and then Darden moved the marker to the 12. Smith capped the remaining yardage for six points. Gonzales' PAT was blocked.

The Wildcats, in their next possession, filled the home side of the board with a counterattack from their own 34 to Overton's 5. Trent Hodge had Big Sandy fans cheering as the sophomore, after two attempts, broke through the Green Wall. Hodge tried a PAT, but his shot veered left of the uprights.

Next, the 'Stangs owned the ball from the closing seconds of the third quarter into the fourth. By that time, Overton was on Big Sandy's 35 courtesy of another run by Darden. The quarterback scrambled again and the Wildcats were defending their end zone 9 yards away. Smith took the ball to the Big Sandy 3, and then what looked like a charge up the middle was a Mustang trick — Darden left-flanked the Wildcats and put six more on the board. Gonzales' boot was good.

Nine minutes and seven seconds were still on the clock, and Big Sandy turned that 20-6 difference into a 20-all tie in successive possessions and only four plays. Junior Tim Sunday caught a 20- yard pass from Howe and found 5 more unguarded yards for 12. The second score, with 5:08 on the clock, was a Howe connection from his 31-yard line with senior Ronny Chalk and another blueand gold uniform in the end zone. Hodge tried another two-point conversion, and got it for 20 to tie things up.

The Wildcat defense forced Overton to punt again. But on Big Sandy's first play, the ball was fumbled and a Mustang claimed it on the host's 25. Overton's first play was Smith's right turn for six more points. The extra point was unsuccessful, and Overton held a bit of an uneasy 26-20 lead with a minute left.

Big Sandy moved from its 47 to Overton's 47 on a Howe-to- Chalk pass. The Wildcats never got another first down. Their last fourth down bid forced the referees to call for a measure. Big Sandy was short a foot. It was Overton's ball and, as Darden kneed the last 28 seconds, the Mustangs' game.

Afterward, coach Robinson was cautious.

"Records mean nothing," he said before leaving. "We still have two games we should have won. We made mistakes tonight, but we overcame adversity."

And his view of Union Hill, the team they face for homecoming this Friday?

"Union Hill is a good football team. But right now, I'm going to enjoy the win in the next 12 hours before I go over the films."

Smith commented about his game-winning touchdown.

"I saw the hole open and ran right through it. I told my teammates, 'Big Sandy couldn't run with us. We're not going to lose this game.'"