The Falcons Fly High After Winning One for The Ages

Facing a 28-7 deficit and a long ride home to southwest Ohio, it was now or never for the Clinton-Massie Falcons.  Coach Dan McSurley kept doing what the Falcons do, the Wing-T offense.  "Our players have been running it since the third grade" and run it they did.  The trio of QB Kody Zantene, and running backs Carson Van Hoose, and Colton Trampler ran, and ran, and ran some more on their way to 3 second half TD’s While the offense was working on playing catch up, the Falcons defense had the job of trying to bottle up an explosive Irish offense lead by QB [player_tooltip player_id="34468" first="Brady" last="Shannon"], WR [player_tooltip player_id="184382" first="Dean" last="Boyd"], and RB Demarcus McElroy.  Ursuline and it’s head coach Dan Reardon kept their foot to the proverbial gas pedal.  "It’s just what we do" says Reardon.  In the midst of Falcons 3 second half scoring drives, their defense came up with 2 crucial stops.  Those stops would give their offense the ball back, and an opportunity to win the game.  Coach Reardon admitted they all knew if they gave the ball back to Clinton-Massie before Massie’s final drive, there was a chance that they wouldn’t get the ball back. After a crucial stop with 7:49 left in the game and a 28-21 deficit, the Falcons offense took over, and once again did what they do.  Clinton-Massie grinded out a 7 minute, clock eating drive that would be completed by a QB keeper by Kody Zantini that faked out nearly everyone in the stadium as he walked in for the score.  Down 28-27 with just 43 seconds to go Falcons head coach Dan McSurley had a decision to make.  Kick the extra point and force overtime or go for the win in regulation.  McSurley looked to his assistant, Coach Z, and asked what we should do.  Coach Z responded, we should let the kids decide.  So that’s exactly what I did, I said what do you guys what to do?  And I think they all said, coach, lets win this thing" said McSurley.  With all the confidence in the world, and a great play call, the Falcons scored the go ahead 2-point conversion to take the 29-28 lead.  Ursuline would have a few shots to respond, but ultimately fell short. QB Kody Zantene said "I went to the sidelines and I expected to see guys with their heads down, but they weren’t".  The Falcons knew what they had to do.  A 21 point 2nd half deficit?  A non passing offense? No problem.  The Falcon’s simply had to do what they do.  Win.