Donovan wills the KoMets to the Prep Bowl

Prep Redzone provides coverage of a recenet combine in Kansas.

Brian Jerzak

November 19, 2021 @ 12:21 AM

Things were going just as planned for the undefeated Becker Bulldogs. They had just scored a touchdown to take a 17-3 lead over Kasson-Mantorville and had the ball back near mid-field late in the third quarter. Then K-M’s Gavin Giesler read a screen pass. Forty yards later, the KoMets had a first and goal, about ready to start a comeback that no one associated with KoMets' football will soon forget. KoMets' followers won’t soon forget the toughness of quarterback either. Limping most of the second half and having to leave the field for about five plays after he took a hard hit while running the option, the senior came back to score the game-tying touchdown and then was a one-man wrecking crew on the game’s final drive – capping the game off with the winning touchdown pass. Three fourth-quarter touchdowns – the last with nine seconds to play – completed the comeback and sent the underdog KoMets to the Prep Bowl with a 24-20 victory. Both defenses played well in the first quarter. Although they didn’t score, K-M was winning the field position game. However, late in the 2nd quarter, Becker started to get their running and short passing games going. They rode the legs of physical running back Carter Callahan to pick up a pair of first downs and then used a play-action pass to pick up another first down. Callahan would take a pitch and get the corner to convert a 4th and short. That first down would lead to another play-action pass from Becker quarterback to Logan Eisele for a seven-yard touchdown. With 49 seconds left in the first half, Becker’s Adam Jurek forced and recovered a fumble near mid-field. Three first downs, using time-outs and the sidelines to keep the clock under control, the Bulldogs tacked on a 36-yard field goal by Zach Bengtson to go into the half with a 10-0 lead. Down two scores, K-M got their option game going. Behind the running and decision-making of Donovan, the KoMet’s got on the board. A Donovan to Brooks Buchanan completion picked up a first down on third and long. Then Donovan found running back for another third-down conversion. A powerful run after catch by Michael Hoff set up Alex Donovan with a 21-yard field goal. Becker used its same formula – the running of Callahan and using play-action off that to quickly answer the KoMets’ field goal with a touchdown. They got the ball back near mid-field with a chance to take a three-score lead, and Giesler turned the game around with the biggest play of the game to that point – the interception. One of the best in AAAA, the Becker defense nearly bailed out the offense. They stuffed the K-M offense three times until Donovan pushed the ball over the line on a quarterback sneak. The KoMet defense forced a punt, and Donovan bobbled the punt but recovered in time to get up the sidelines for a 42-yard punt return – giving his offense a short field. Donovan would take a hard hit while he cut up the field on an option and had to leave the field for about five plays. Moe-Tucker and Buchanan ground out yards on the ground to move the ball inside the five-yard line. Donovan came back in time to tie the game with a one-yard touchdown run. Becker re-took the lead with a field goal at 1:30 to play in the game. It was just enough time for Donovan and the K-M offense. Donovan picked up twenty yards on third and one to mid-field. Giesler got out of bounds after a ten-yard catch. Facing third and long again, Donovan picked up twenty yards and got out of bounds. Then a facemask penalty gave K-M fifteen yards and a first down at the 14 with 26 seconds left. Donovan picked up eight more on the ground set up the senior’s final big play of the game. Donovan rolled to his left on third and five from the seven and threw into the flat to a wide-open Buchanan for the game-winning touchdown.