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a Heart-Breaker |
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Recovery Seal Fate Photos: Quarterback Jamil Young celebrates TD (top), linemen James Faulkner and Bobby James drop Ravens' Kevin Maull for a loss (middle), and running back Andre Cannon (below) races past Tech defenders on 44-yard run. BRIDGEVILLE -- By the numbers, Woodbridge should have won its nonconference game with visiting Sussex Tech on Friday, Sept. 28, 2001.
But for the Blue Raiders, those numbers were little comfort in their 28-27 double-overtime defeat. Woodbridge fell to 2-2 overall when it had an extra point blocked in the second overtime and a fumble turned into a Sussex Tech touchdown that led to the game-winning extra point kick. The Blue Raiders, who outgained unbeaten Tech 242-145 and had 13 first downs to Tech's 8, took a 27-21 lead in the second overtime when quarterback Jamil Young scored his third touchdown on a nifty 10-yard run. But when Tech's David Witt blocked placekicker John Passwaters' extra point attempt, it left the door open for the Ravens. And on the very next play, Tech end Jamil Trott recovered what could have been a disastrous fumble into the end zone by Tech quarterback Marcus Morris for the tying touchdown.
The game had been going Woodbridge's way in regulation. The Raiders held Tech to 33 yards in the first half on the way to a 14-7 halftime lead. Jamil Young broke several tackles to score the Raiders' first touchdown on a 15-yard run midway through the second period, and after Tech's Kevin Maull tied the score with a 97-yard return on the ensuing kickoff, the Raiders put together a 77-yard drive in the half's final five minutes to go ahead when running back Andre Cannon burst into the end zone from two yards out. Cannon, who had a 44-yard run on that drive, finished the first half with 111 of his 160 yards rushing on 30 carries.
The defenses stiffened at that point and neither team would threaten again until late in the fourth quarter, when Woodbridge embarked on a long drive to the Raven 15. The drive stalled there, though, and ended when Passwaters' 32-yard field goal attempt missed to the left. That set the stage for overtime, where the Ravens scored first for a 21-14 lead on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Morris to receiver Chris Hopkins. The Raiders were not bowed, however, as they came right back with a 6-yard TD run by Young to make it 21-21. Defensively, the Raiders got an interception from Young and tackles for losses by James Faulkner and Bobby James. Woodbridge opens its Henlopen Conference Southern Division schedule with a home game against Laurel on Friday, Oct. 5, at 7:30 p.m.
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Ordinarily, a 100-yard advantage in total yardage and holding the opposition to less than 150 yards would be enough to assure victory.
The extra point kick by the Ravens' Sean Melvin set off a wild Tech celebration while sending Woodbridge players crashing to the turf in dismay.
Tech's only sustained drive of the night came on its first possession of the second half, as it drove 87 yards on 10 plays to tie the score on a 1-yard plunge by Morris.