WEST MIDDLESEX 12, COUDERSPORT 8

Dec. 1, 2006

PIAA Class A Playoffs - First Round at Clarion University's Memorial Stadium

CLARION – Thirty-four seconds isn't a large amount of time, but for the West Middlesex football team, it was just enough to get the job done.

Trailing by an 8-6 score, the Big Reds took over on their own 37-yard line with 34 seconds showing on the clock.

Quarterback Kolten Hoffman was sacked for a 7-yard loss, but he bounced back to complete passes to Steve Andrusky and Josh Brown followed by an unsportsmanlike call against the Falcons to set up the final play of the game.

With a mere four seconds left in the game, the Big Reds found themselves faced with a doe-or-die situation on the Coudersport 34.

Quarterback Hoffman, hobbled somewhat by an ankle injury, lofted a Hail Mary pass toward the right corner of the end zone, junior receiver Tyler Barris went high in the air and caught the ball just inside the back line of the end zone for a touchdown to give the Big Reds a thrilling 12-8 victory over the Falcons.

"We didn't want to take any more chances with him (Kolten), but he is a warrior who just keeps going and going," said Middlesex head coach Brian Hoffman. "We practiced that play all week in practice to be honest about it. We never thought we would need it, but sure enough, we needed it and it worked."

With the win, the Big Reds (14-0) will face WPIAL champion Clairton at a time and place to be determined by PIAA officials. Clairton was a 34-14 winner over Meyersdale in the other western semifinal.

"I just felt that I was going to have a breakout game tonight because I haven't been doing much all season long," said Barris about his catch. "Playing as hard as we did tonight right down to the final seconds says a lot about this team. We just don't know what it means to quit. Coudersport was a good team and I have to give them a lot of credit for displaying good sportsmanship and playing us as tough as they did."

As for the big catch, Barris's only concern was that he was in bounds.

"It was designed to be tipped back to one of the other receivers, but when I went up, the ball was there and I was able to come down with it," explained Barris. "My only concern was whether or not I was in bounds, but when I looked down, I was clearly in the end zone. I still can't believe that it happened."

After dominating defensively through most of the opening three quarters, West Middlesex broke the scoreless tie with a touchdown. Again it was Hoffman breaking several tackles, reversing his field and finally finding Andrusky open in the end zone for a 20-yard scoring play and a 6-0 Big Reds lead.

"That is what senior leaders do. They step up and make big plays for you," said coach Hoffman. "He (Kolten) has done that so many times this year for us and tonight, he did it again. I hope I have that kid on the field next week. His ankle was pretty dinged up, but he'll go see the doctor tomorrow and hopefully we'll have him for next week."

As for the play of his defense, coach Hoffman thought it was one of their best efforts of the season.

"I thought our defense played great football all night long," he said. "We moved the ball a little bit on offense here and there, but nothing consistently. That concerned me a little bit, but the defense played tough and kept us in there."

Trailing by the 6-0 count late in the fourth quarter, Coudersport made the most of back-to-back pass plays covering a total of 68 yards to give them a first down at the West Middlesex 22.

Aided by a pass interference call against the Big Reds, the Falcons were able to score the tying touchdown on a 7-yard pass from Boomer Wetzel to Brett Whitman. Coudersport (13-1) took its only lead of the night following the Whitman touchdown on a Wetzel-to-John Hau pass for the 2-point conversion to set up the frantic finish.

Still filled with high emotions following the game, coach Hoffman took a few minutes to reflect on what had just happened.

"You might think you are a pretty tough guy, but when he (Barris) made that catch, I could feel the tears in the back of my eyes," admitted Hoffman. "It is an emotional game filled with highs and lows. 34 seconds ago, it was as low as you can get, and 34 seconds later, it is as high as you can get. I am just so glad that I get to coach this team."

WEST MIDDLESEX 12, COUDERSPORT 8

Score by Quarters

West Middlesex 0 0 6 6 – 12

Coudersport 0 0 0 8 – 8

Scoring Summary

Third Quarter

WM – Steve Andrusky 20 pass from Kolten Hoffman (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

C – Brett Whitman 7 pass from Boomer Wetzel (John Hau pass from Wetzel), :34

WM – Tyler Barris 34 pass from Hoffman (no attempt), :00

Team Statistics

WM C

First Downs 12 8

Rushes-Yards 42-145 34-72

Yards Passing 83 98

Passing 6-14-1 6-14-0

Total Yards 228 170

Fumbles-Lost 3-2 0-0

Penalties-Yards 2-21 6-70

Individual Statistics

Rushing – West Middlesex: Steve Andrusky 11-64, Josh Brown 10-39, Lucas Allen 8-25, Kolten Hoffman 13-17.Coudersport: Chris Cavallari 14-70, Carin Knight 4-27, Drew Levavasseur 2-5, Tim Thomas 1-(-1), Boomer Wetzel 4-(-3), Team 1-(-5), Justen Kinder 6-(-8), Sam Decker 2-(-13).

Passing – West Middlesex: Kolten Hoffman 6-for-13, 83 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions. Steve Andrusky 0-for-1, 0 yards, 1 interception. Coudersport: Boomer Wetzel 6-for-12, 98 yards, 1 touchdown. Justen Kinder 0-for-2, 0 yards.

Receiving – West Middlesex: Tyler Barris 2-36, 1 TD; Steve Andrusky 2-29, Josh Brown 2-18. Coudersport: Chris Cavallari 2-55, Logan Hathaway 1-15, Sam Decker 1-10, Drew Levavasseur 1-11, Brett Whitman 1-7.

Interceptions – Coudersport: Brett Whitman, Logan Hathaway.

Sacks – Coudersport: Chris Cavallari, Kody Frederick. West Middlesex: Not available