A fierce, emotional battle Friday night that had major ramifications for the Los Padres League playoff picture came down to one thing—St. Joseph had a kicker, Templeton didn’t.

“Our kicking game killed us,” said Templeton head coach Don Crow.

The Eagles’ leading rusher, Ben Terry, who also serves as the team’s kicker and punter was injured in the Oct. 5 game against Morro Bay. Though he’s tried to tough it out as a kicker for the Eagles since, Templeton missed two field goals and two extra points, one in overtime, in a 21-20 loss.

Despite the outcome, Eagles players were pleased with the effort.

“Defensively we did awesome, but a few times we got down to the goal line and couldn’t get it done,” said senior Cody Smith, who was named homecoming king. “It meant a lot [to be named homecoming king], but a win in the football game would have meant more.”

Crow acknowledged that his players fought hard in a game where they out-gained the Knights 301-227 yards, forced five turnovers and had a number of opportunities to get the win.

“Our kids played hard like they always do,” Crow said. “The kids worked so hard and they wanted the game so bad, but we couldn’t kick the ball through the pipes and it cost us.”

Now 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the LPL, Crow said Friday’s home finale against rival Pioneer Valley will be key.

“We’ve got to win next Friday night to get into the playoffs,” Crow said. “Our backs are totally against the wall. Pioneer Valley is a very good football team, so we’ve got to play well and eliminate the mistakes.”

The game started out in ideal fashion for Templeton. After forcing a quick three-and-out, the Eagles took just five plays to go 46 yards for the touchdown. Brenton Cordle had the big blow, carrying the ball 24 yards on first down at the 32. Andrew Schechter capped the drive with a one yard plunge to make it 6-0. The Eagles missed the extra point.

St. Joseph looked to answer right back. Quarterback Gavin Kelly moved the ball downfield quickly, connecting with Russell Perkins on a long gainer, when he fumbled, giving it back to the Eagles in the end zone for a touchback. Templeton failed to take advantage.

Finally, in the second quarter, the Knights got on track. With 7:13 left in the half, Perkins powered in from two yards out to tie the game 6-6. With the extra point, St. Joseph took the 7-6 lead.

Near the end of the half, a long drive for the Eagles led to a field goal attempt. A 19-yard strike from Casey Bogart to his brother Tyler set the Eagles up on first and goal at the 10. Two plays and a penalty later, Bogart connected with Cordle on a nine yard gain that left the Eagles six yards shy of the end zone. On the 23-yard field goal attempt, Terry’s kick sailed wide left as the game remained 7-6 at the half.

In the third quarter, the Knights had trouble hanging on to the ball. After an onside kick caught Templeton off guard and gave the Knights the first crack in the third quarter, Kelly was in the grasp of Lee Ormonde when he flung a pass attempt that flailed in the air and was snatched by Sean McCaffrey, setting the Eagles up at the Knights’ 39.

The Eagles went four-and-out, as the game remained 7-6.

On the next play, Kelly fumbled and the ball was recovered by Derek Scoville at the Knights’ 41-yard line.

This time, the Eagles made the most of their opportunity. It took 10 plays, but on third and goal from the one Smith powered in to give his team a 12-7 lead. On the next play, Bogart connected with Matt Duhon for the two-point conversion to make it 14-7.

Templeton had a number of chances to increase that lead as the Knights offense sputtered and turned the ball over five times in the game. On their most promising drive, which ended the third quarter and began the fourth, the Eagles had third and goal at the one-yard line but couldn’t punch the ball in. Templeton settled for a field goal attempt by Bogart, which sailed wide right.

In the fourth quarter, it was a Templeton turnover that turned the tide of the game. As Templeton looked to run the clock out, Bogart’s pitch sailed wide and the Knights recovered.

On fourth-and-10, Kelly connected with Travis Biegel for 18 yards to give St. Joseph a first down at the 47-yard line. Two plays later, Kelly connected with Biegel on a 36-yard strike to set up first and goal at the two. Perkins punched it in on the next play to make it 14-13. An extra point tied the game at 14-14, which is how regulation would end.

In overtime, the Eagles’ offense took the field first. On the second play, Bogart connected with brother Tyler again, this time for 25 yards and a touchdown to put Templeton out in front.

“I just had to do what I needed to do to put my team out in front,” Bogart said. “And I got it done.”

Bogart was 9-for-15 for 94 yards and a touchdown.

But Bogart missed the extra point, so the Eagles led by just six, 20-14.

The Knights took more time but scored a touchdown of their own on a one-yard plunge from Perkins to tie the game at 20-20. With the extra point, knocked through by kicker Anthony Gallegos, the Knights sealed the overtime victory to move to 4-0 in the LPL.

Schechter led the Eagles on the ground with 88 yards on 21 carries. Kris Dearie had 77 yards on seven carries. In all, the Eagles had 207 yards on the ground on 49 carries while limiting St. Joseph to 53 yards rushing on 32 carries.

But it wasn’t enough.

“This is probably the most complete game we’ve played all year,” Bogart said. “We’ve just got to build on this and keep getting better.”

Templeton hosts Pioneer Valley on Friday, Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m.



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