KEYSTONE 36, UNION 30, overtime

Sept. 19, 2008

KNOX – Dan Reed's 6-yard touchdown strike to Brett Zuck in overtime proved to be the difference in Keystone’s thrilling 36-30 overtime victory over Union Friday night at Keystone High School.

“I’m really proud of my guys,” said Keystone head coach Jason Nellis.  

Keystone (2-2 overall, 2-2 KSAC) appeared to have the game in hand when Zach Smith's 19-yard touchdown run and the successful PAT made it 30-22 with 2:44 left in regulation.

Union (0-4, 0-4) proved it still had some fight left in it, however. 

Facing a fourth-and-8 from the Keystone 13-yard line on the ensuing drive, Knights quarterback Matt Gagliano found Zach Traister for nine yards setting up a first-and-goal from the 4.  Colby Davis took it into the end zone on the very next play, his third touchdown of the game, to make it 30-28 with 54 seconds remaining.

The subsequent 2-point conversion snap was fumbled, but Gagliano was able to improvise and hit Taylor Smith with an underhanded pass in the end zone to send the game to overtime.

Keystone then had possession first in the extra session and scored before missing the extra point leaving open a chance for Union to win the game.

But the Panthers defense came up with four stops to preserve the victory.

Union, trailing 8-6 at halftime, appeared to take control of the game in the third quarter.

Davis scored on runs of 16 and 4 yards on Union's first two possessions of the second half to put the Golden Knights up 22-8 with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter.

The Panthers answered right back, as Reed took the ensuing kickoff and raced 85 yards up the left sideline for a touchdown.  The successful 2-point conversion made it 22-16.

“That kickoff return got us back in the game,” said Nellis.  “I thought the momentum really changed after that.”

Keystone then took its first lead of the second half at the 8:09 mark of the fourth quarter when Zuck caught a 4-yard pass from Reed, and Smith hit the extra point making it 23-16.

The first half was a bit of a defensive struggle, with Keystone scoring on Smith’s 30-yard touchdown run with 3:05 left in the second quarter.  The successful 2-point conversion made it 8-0.

After both teams had three-and-outs, Union got the ball back with just over a minute left in the half at its own 40.

Gagliano was able to find Zach Traister for a 37-yard completion on third-and-10 to extend the drive.  The two hooked up again on a 7-yard touchdown pass as time expired in the first half, making it 8-6.

Reed was the star on this night for the Panthers, going 6 of 11 passing for 50 yards and two touchdowns, carrying the ball 20 times for 96 yards while also adding the 85-yard kickoff return.

“The type of resiliency we showed tonight is something you can’t teach,” said Nellis. 

Davis led the Union attack carrying 27 times for 144 yards and three touchdowns, while Gagliano completed 12 of 25 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown.

Keystone will welcome Karns City to town next week, while Union will play host to Moniteau.

KEYSTONE 36, UNION 30, overtime

Score by quarters

Keystone    0    8    8    14    6

Union         0    6    16    8    0

Scoring Summary

Second Quarter

K- Zach Smith 30 run (2 pt. conversion good)    3:05

U- Zach Traister 7 pass from Matt Gagliano (Conversion failed)    :0

Third Quarter

U- Colby Davis 16 run (2 pt. conversion good)    8:07

U- Davis 4 run (2 pt. conversion good)    3:24

K- Danny Reed 85 kickoff return (2 pt. conversion good)    3:11

Fourth Quarter

K- Brett Zuck 4 pass from Reed (Smith kick)     8:09

K- Smith 19 run (Smith kick)     2:44

U- Davis 4 run (2 pt. conversion good)     :54

Overtime

K- Brett Zuck 6 pass from Reed (Kick failed) 

Team Statistics                K                        U

1st Downs                14                        15

Rushes-Yards           35-164                 39-185

Passing Yards          76                        121

Comp-Att-Int           20-11-0                25-12-0

Total Yards             240                      306

Punts-Average        5-39.2                  5-27.6

Fumbles-Lost         0-0                      2-1

Penalties-Yards      3-30                    2-10

Individual Statistics

Rushing- Keystone: Danny Reed 20-96, Zach Smith 10-94, Ben Black 5 (-)26.  Union: Colby Davis 27-144, Matt Gagliano 10-32, Zach Traister 1-16, Trent Switzer 1-3.

Passing- Keystone: Danny Reed 6 of 11, 50 yards 2 TD's, Ben Black 5 of 9, 26 yards.  Union: Matt Gagliano 12 of 25 121 yards, 1 TD

Receiving- Keystone: Ben Black 2-24, Brett Zuck 2-18, Danny Reed 2-17, Zach Smith 1-11, Steve Krauss 1-5, B.J. Seyler 1-1.  Union:  Zach Traister 7-78, Curtis Shirey 2-23, Trent Switzer 2-22, Colby Davis 1 (-)2