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The West Prairie La Harpe Cyclones overcame a furious 4th quarter rally by visiting Central Southeastern in posting a thrilling 28-21 overtime win. The game, the regular season final for both teams, was played last Friday evening at Baumann field in Sciota. The win was the Cyclone's 5th straight and gives them a record of 7-2 heading into the playoff.
After a scoreless first period, the Cyclones got on board with a 17 play drive that took up almost the entire 2nd quarter. A 4-yard drive into the endzone by junior halfback Joel DeCounter capped the drive. Classmate Matt Woolam added the successful PAT kick for a 7-0 WP-LH advantage.
C-SE came out of the halftime break fired up and quickly used their passing game to get down the field. A 1-yard run for the score gave the Panthers their first score of the evening. A successful conversion pass gave C-SE an 8-7 advantage over the hosts.
WP-LH responded with a 4-minute drive and a 47-yard burst by DeCounter to retake the lead 13-8. The crucial conversion run failed and the lead remained at 5 points.
The Cyclones stopped C-SE's next drive and appeared to take control of the game with another score early in the 4th period. A 28-yard tackle breaking rampage, by senior QB Kevin Mershon, produced this score and gave WP-LH a 19-8 advantage. A two point conversion run by DeCounter upped the margin to 8 points.
WP-LH appeared ready to ice the game as they stopped the next Panther possession and began another deep drive into C-SE territory. However a Cyclone fumble at the 7:51 mark gave the ball back to the Panthers and with renewed hope they played like their season depended on it (which it did as their record prior to the game's outcome stood at 4-4).
C-SE scored two touchdowns in that final 7 minutes, including the last to tie the game at the end of regulation. That sent the game into overtime and gave WP-LH a chance to finish what they started.
WP-LH got the ball first in the extra period and quickly responded with two runs by DeCounter to cover the 10-yards to score. Woolam added a successful PAT kick for a 28-21 Cyclone edge.
C-SE now took their turn and went quickly to the air to try to tie or win the game. A pair of incompletions and an 8-yard loss by their QB set up a final 4th and 18 yards play.
On the play the Panther QB would set up in a shotgun and found a receiver streaking down the middle towards the goal line. The pass was right on the money and at first looked like it would set up a pivotal conversion attempt by C-SE. Fortunately for the Cyclone faithful, senior safety Kevin Mershon arrived just as the ball did and the force of his tackle knocked the ball out of the Panther receiver's grasp to secure the overtime win for WP-LH.
The Cyclones gained 346 yards in this contest with 328 coming on the ground. DeCounter led the way with 128 yards on 17 carries. Also adding to the rushing totals were Mershon (89 yards), Eric Swank (60 yards), Matt Woolam (36 yards), and Brian Butterfield (15 yards).
Mershon completed his only pass attempt on the night for an 8-yard gain and a key first down to DeCounter. The Cyclone game now was to run the ball and burn up the clock behind their offensive line. That group included Ryan Mullenix, and Jacob Markey at the tackles, J. D. Hobby and Dustin Derry at the guards, Tyler Sharpe and Randy Bray at the tight ends and John Bruns at Center. They will now have to setup up big-time as the team enters post-season play.
The defense was tested severely by C-SE's passing attack and excellent team speed. Although he had only 4 tackles, defensive end Justin Ward played a pivotal role by applying constant pressure on the QB. Sophomore safety, Skyler Pence, also came up big with a pair of interceptions to go along with his 3 tackles.
Topping the WP-LH tackle chart were Woolam and Mershon with 7 apiece. Also on the hit parade were Swank (5 tackles), Even Wisely (5), Sharpe (4), Butterfield (4), Kylen Carpenter (4), DeCounter (3), Jesse Palmer (2), Jacob Markey (2), Ryan Mullenix (2), Jeremy McCoy(2), and Jason Coplan(1).
The Cyclones found out Saturday night that they would play Bushnell-Prairie City-Avon in the I.H.S.A. Class 2-A state playoffs. The Spartans are class 2's #1 rated team, and finished the 2005 season at 8-1. Another first in the Prairieland Conference. The game will be played at Bushnell this Friday night with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.