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Nevada comes up short
By Jason Peake
Herald-Tribune
HOLDEN, Mo. -- Contrasting emotions overtook Wes Beachler and the entire Nevada High School football team moments after the final horn sounded.
Entering the night with a shot at the school's first playoff berth since 1998, Nevada took a lead into the fourth quarter of the Class 3, District 12 finale between the Tigers and host Holden on Thursday night.
But on this night, it was not meant to be.
Playing for pride only after an 0-2 start in district play, Holden rallied late for a 43-29 win over the Tigers in a loss that shattered Nevada's playoff hopes.
While still emotional after the season-ending loss, Beachler, Nevada's first year coach, also looked at the big picture. This was a team that went 0-10 in 2010. And in 2011, the Tigers won six games and competed in a meaningful, important game on the last night of the regular season.
"There are a lot of mixed emotions right now," Beachler said. "I'm really proud of the kids. They did a great job this year. But right now, we're pretty disappointed. We didn't play as well as we would have liked to."
The Tigers appeared to have all of the momentum on its side after a safety with 17 seconds left in the third period gave the visitors a 29-27 lead.
After giving up the safety, Holden had to kick off and Nevada had a chance to extend the lead. But the Eagles' defense forced a quick three and out.
Beachler said coming up short on that drive was crucial.
"We needed to score on that drive," Beachler said. "If we would have scored on that drive, I think we would have had it. Not being able to score on that drive was huge. We didn't maintain blocks and we just didn't get it done."
Holden then marched downfield, pulling off a couple of big plays on the ground and through the air to get within striking distance. Holden standout Max Mickey, tough to contain all night long, ran to the 10 and then caught a pass on the one. Austin Tevis ran in for the touchdown on the next play. The Eagles went for two, and Mickey charged into the endzone, giving his team a 35-29 cushion with 7:38 left in the game.
Nevada's next series was one to forget. Dalton Hendren's run on first down gained nothing. QB Alex Payne was tackled for a loss on second down. An incomplete pass on third down forced the Tigers to punt.
"We let some of their blitz packages confuse us in the second half," Beachler noted.
Holden then put the game away. Using long gains on the ground by Jeff Miller and Mickey, the Eagles were inside the 30. Facing a fourth down and three, a QB keeper by Miller was good for a first down and Mickey scored on a two-yard run two plays later. Mickey then ran in for two, giving the Eagles a 43-29 lead with only 1:44 left in the game.
Beachler gave the Eagles' running attack credit after the game.
"They run the veer really well," Beachler said. "You have to be really sound and disciplined on defense. We didn't do things well enough."
Holden scored 16 unanswered points to end the game. Beachler said Holden made the big plays when they had to and his team did not.
"They beat us," Beachler said. "You can't slice it any other way. They beat us."
The contest was a back-and-forth one.
On the first possession of the game, Holden strung together a long drive that went 63 yards and ended with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Miller to Eric Stout. The kick was good and it was 7-0.
The Tigers got on the board early in the second quarter when Payne connected with Johnathan Klingaman for a 20-yard score. Lucas Denman's kick tied the game.
Holden's Mickey scored on a 26-yard run on the next series. The kick failed and it was 13-7.
Next, Nevada's Dalton Hendren broke free to the outside and scampered 66 yards to the endzone. The kick failed, and it was 13-all.
Mickey scored again for Holden, this time on a four-yard run. The PAT failed, but the Eagles were up 19-13.
Klingaman's five-yard TD run with 27 seconds left in the half tied the game. Hendren's two-point conversion gave Nevada a 21-19 halftime advantage.
Holden appeared to score just before the half, but a TD pass to Stout was called back due to an illegal receiver downfield penalty.
After intermission, Nevada strung together a 50-yard drive that ended with Hendren's one-yard dash to the endzone. The kick failed once again, though, but it was still 27-19 in favor of the Tigers.
Holden answered back once again. After the Eagles started deep on the 14, Mickey did the rest, eventually scoring on a 31-yard run up the middle. Miller ran in for two, tying the game at 27. That's when Nevada got the safety, as Bubba Banes and Nathan Slichenmeier stopped Mickey in the endzone. But of course, after that, Holden scored 16-straight to pull out the win.
With Thursday's loss, the season came to a sudden end. Like many of his teammates, Nevada's Banes stayed on the field for several minutes after the game, sharing hugs with fans, students and assistant coaches.
Before heading to the locker-room, a disappointed Banes said some of the Tigers may have taken Holden lightly.
"I don't think we came ready to play," the senior linebacker said. "Some of us thought we'd just come in, win and go home. You can't think that way."
Banes, like Beachler, had a roller-coaster of emotions going through his mind after the loss. Banes acknowledged how special the season was for the team.
"Going from 0-10 to coming back and winning this many games, and winning five-straight this year, that's something that will always stay in my mind."
Banes said he and his teammates will never forget how the team turned things around this year.
"It took two men, Coach Beachler and Coach (Don) Epps, to come in and get it done," Banes said.
Banes had one final thought.
"They did an amazing job with this team," he said of his coaches. "It was an amazing year for us. But we just came up one win short."
Notes: A junior wingback, Hendren ran for 119 yards on 17 carries. A senior, Klingaman rushed for 97 yards on 12 carries. Nevada totaled 236 rushing yards. A sophomore, Payne completed three of five passes for 34 yards.
Nevada played without Cole Sanderson, who suffered a concussion in the second district game.
Holden's Mickey scored four touchdowns and rushed for 253 yards.
District 12 champ Pleasant Hill hosts Monett on Wednesday and Clinton, the district runner-up, travels to undefeated Cassville. Pleasant Hill beat Clinton 20-0 on Thursday. Clinton is the runner-up due to the points system.
Class 3 District 12
| Pleasant Hill | 3 - 0 |
| Clinton | 1 - 2 |
| Nevada | 1 - 2 |
| Holden | 1 - 2 |
Oct. 14 scores
Pleasant Hill 28, Nevada 7
Clinton 35, Holden 24
Oct. 21 scores
Nevada 20, Clinton 14 OT
Pleasant Hill 35, Holden 18
Oct. 27 scores
Holden 43, Nevada 29
Pleasant Hill 20, Clinton 0
Holden 43, Nevada 29
NE 0 21 8 0 -- 29
HO 7 12 8 16 -- 43
SCORING SUMMARY
First quarter
HOL: Eric Stout, 28-yard pass from Jeff Miller, 6:33. Haun kick.
Second quarter
NEV: Johnathan Klingaman, 20-yard pass from Alex Payne, 10:29. Lucas Denman kick.
HOL: Max Mickey, 26-yard run, 6:04. Kick fails.
NEV: Dalton Hendren, 66-yard run, 3:59. Kick fails.
HOL: Mickey, 4-yard run, 1:01. PAT failed.
NEV: Klingaman, 5-yard run, 0:27. Hendren run.
Third quarter
NEV: Hendren, 1-yard run, 7:35. Kick fails.
HOL: Mickey, 31-yard run, 3:45. Miller run for 2.
NEV: Safety, 0:17.
Fourth quarter
HOL: Austin Tevis, 1-yard run, 7:38. Mickey run.
HOL: Mickey, two-yard run, 1:44. Mickey run.