By Jim Derry
It was over. Shaw recovered an onside kick and was three kneel-downs and 35 seconds away from becoming back-to-back Division II Select state champions.
Then the unfathomable happened. So unfathomable that some players and coaches didn’t even know what was happening as some mysterious tide turned that allowed top-seeded St. Charles to have one last shot.
And that’s all they needed.
Following an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty that gave the Comets an extra timeout when the Eagles seemingly had the game in hand and an ensuing shanked punt from Shaw that went 8 yards, St. Charles kicker Tyler Milioto kicked a an absolutely unlikely, incredible, game-winning 44-yard field goal for a 23-21 victory.
“I have been a head coach for 40-something years, and I have seen a lot of crazy endings. There have been a whole lot of tough ones, but this is absolutely the toughest loss I have ever gone through as a coach,” Shaw’s Hank Tierney said. “… When I go back to that dressing room, there’s going to be 100 kids crying.
“To play like we played tonight against the best team in the state, and to lose the way we lost, is just devastating.”
If one were to ask the Comets (13-1), there’s no question divine intervention played a role in their fourth state championship.
Last week, they blocked a U-High extra point with less than 2 minutes remaining to force overtime, which allowed St. Charles to win, 34-27. They took it a step further Friday night. Rather, they took it so far, Hollywood would turn down the script because it is too ridiculous.
Down 21-14, their night was nearly complete when Landree LeBlanc was picked off by Christian Langford with 6:32 remaining. But the Comets got one last drive when they forced a three-and-out, and they took advantage.
LeBlanc was sharp, dinking and dunking his way down the field, and senior running back Skyler Edwards capped the 11-play, 82-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 35 seconds left.
However, Milioto, who simply doesn’t miss extra points, shanked this one wide left. It was 21-20, not 21-21, and with only two timeouts, all Shaw had to do was kneel it out following the recovery of the onside kick.
First down. Kneel down. St. Charles Wayne Stein does not immediately call timeout, and the clock runs all the way down from 35 seconds to 24. A Shaw offensive lineman, thinking the game is over, then throws his helmet into the air, which is soon followed by Stein finally calling timeout.
Flag on the play. Unsportsmanlike conduct.
Now, not only is it second and 30, but the Comets regain their timeout, and the Eagles can no longer run out the clock. Two plays later, a punt goes just 8 yards. Two plays after that, Milioto goes from goat to hero, and every heart covered with a green sweatshirt or sweater is full of tears.
If Mr. Automatic makes the extra point, the game goes to overtime, and who knows what happens. If Stein calls timeout immediately, following the first kneel down, the Shaw lineman either doesn’t throw his helmet or he does so after the timeout, and they only have one left.
Even those who don’t believe in supernatural forces had the hair standing up on the back of their necks when they listened to Stein’s postgame press conference.
“After we lost to Madison Prep last year (in the second round), that night we lost John Talley, who was our special teams and defensive line coach,” Stein said. “He was a big part of what we had done. He passed away in his sleep, and I went from feeling sorry for myself with a 4-7 record to having to stand in front of these guys and tell them they just lost their coach.
“… I wasn’t sure if I was just going to go out there and shake hands (after the first kneel down). Luckily, enter divine intervention. Helmet comes off, and after that I was awarded my timeout back. … And I know Tyler doesn’t miss those kicks. Who knows?”
For Shaw (9-5), it will be some time before they get over it – if at all.
Red Shaw is a junior and had been one of the area’s top defensive backs before this season. Out of necessity, he became the team’s quarterback and took his first snap ever this past May.
On Friday, he had his best game ever – rushing for 126 yards and two touchdowns and being named Shaw’s Most Outstanding Player just 5 weeks after he gained minus-6 yards on 10 carries against the Comets.
“All we talked about was getting back to the Dome,” Shaw said as he held back tears. “Now we are gonna have to find a way to do it again.”
It won’t be as easy for guys like DeAndree Franklin, who is a senior and had to wait his turn behind All-State running back Jasper Parker, who now is at the University of Michigan. Franklin, who had 7 yards on 6 carries in the first game, collected 100 yards on 17 rushes Friday.
“We came in here with a chip on our shoulder, and we were focused all week,” he said. “Unfortunately, things happen. I am overwhelmed, but that’s OK. It’s part of life.”