Patriots 33 Sunrise 32

Blocked Extra Points That Left Them Just Six

Two Point Conversions that Should’ve Been Kicked

Field Goals and Squib Kicks While “Semper Fi” Rings,

These are a few of my favorite things….

The Christ Prep Patriots overcame a 20 point first half deficit to defeat the Sunrise Christian Academy Buffaloes by a score of 33-32 Friday night at the Patriots' homecoming game and Senior Night at Piper High School.

Christ Prep scored points in almost every conceivable way--on the ground, in the air, and via special teams-- and actually scored only four touchdowns to Sunrise's five. But it was the intangibles that won this game for the Patriots, as they capitalized on virtually every opportunity they had to do something special.

Christ Prep received the opening kickoff and drove deep into Buffalo territory before a Timothy Finley pass was intercepted at the goal line and returned to midfield. It was all Sunrise for the next 15 minutes as QB Zach Howell methodically delivered pass after pass into the waiting hands of an excellent receiving corps. Howell connected on short touchdown passes to teammates Seth Young, Jake Berdan, and Zach Sleppy en route to a 20-0 early second quarter lead.

The Patriots then went to work, piecing together a second quarter drive that culminated in a 5 yard Finley TD run. The Patriots then lined up for the ensuing PAT kick, but Finley found himself holding the ball when the snap went over holder Chase Stamatis's head. Finley ran to his right and found the end zone, providing the Patriots two points instead of their attempted one. This play and others like it would prove pivotal in the game's outcome.

Christ Prep scored again in the second quarter as Finley found Davis White on a 62 yard catch-and-run touchdown. Finley's PAT kick was good this time, drawing the Patriots to 20-15, the score that stood at halftime.

Christ Prep kicked off to the Buffaloes to start the second half, and Sunrise wasted little time going back to work. This time Howell again found Berdan, hitting him on a 16 yard touchdown strike, increasing the Buffaloes' lead to 26-15. The ensuing PAT, however, was blocked by Cale Thomas. This play also proved pivotal, especially when combined with a previous Thomas first quarter blocked PAT and another Sunrise missed PAT.

The Patriots came right back down the field as Will Cook ran 36 yards for the next CPA touchdown. Once again the Patriots lined up for the kick, but this time the ball fell off the tee and Stamatis pitched the ball back to kicker Finley who scrambled over to the right sideline before launching a desperation pass over to the left side of the field. Awaiting the pass was freshman Tanner Metzdorf who may have delivered the play of the night. Catching the ball while covered, Metzdorf, in one sweeping motion, brought the ball in, establishing possession, the dove the ball to the goal line for the two point score. Once again the Patriots went for one point and came away with two. How many times can we write "pivotal?"

Down now 26-23, the Patriots eventually got the ball back and once again drove the ball deep into Sunrise territory. Although having first and goal on the Sunrise four, Christ Prep failed to score after running three plays. On fourth down the Patriots went for the tie, settling for a 20 yard Finley field goal.

Knotted at 26, the Patriot coaching staff elected to implement a "squib kick" on the ensuing kickoff. The call worked as the Buffaloes mishandled the ball and the Patriots recovered. Christ Prep then called the 'ol hook and lateral (ladder) play as Will Cook took the ball to the Buffalo one yard line. Finley then took the ball across the goal line for his second rushing touchdown. With the PAT kick going through the uprights, the Patriots took their first lead of the night at 33-26.

Sunrise was not finished, however. They scored relatively quickly, capped by a 41 yard pass from Howell to Berdan. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Berdan for excessive celebration on the TD, however, was crucial as it backed the Buffaloes back to almost the 20 for the point after touchdown. Although Sunrise completed a pass, they didn't get in the end zone on the conversion. However, a Patriot penalty gave them another chance but the subsequent conversion failed, which kept the Patriots in front by a single point 33-32.

Christ Prep got the kickoff and had the unenviable task of trying to run almost five minutes off the clock to secure the win. They did it. Staying primarily on the ground, Christ Prep drove down into Sunrise territory, tallying a couple first downs and running the clock down as far as they could.  The Patriots finally turned the ball over on downs to the Buffaloes, giving them the ball back with :08 left in the game. Although they managed one completion and stopped the clock at :03, their final pass fell incomplete and the Patriots survived, winning 33-32.

Besides the football plays that made their mark on the game, several other intangibles were noted. While dressing in the locker room before the game, the Christ Prep players made the acquaintance of several Marine Corps servicemen who were spending the night in the Piper gym before working the race this weekend at the nearby Kansas Speedway. The 15-20 soldiers eventually made their way down to the stands and cheered vociferously for the Patriots. Patriots themselves, a quick bond was forged between the two groups. The Marines' presence gave an extra boost to the electric atmosphere that was already supercharged by Homecoming, Senior Night, and the presence of an impromptu Christ Prep drum corps.

Statistically, Christ Prep delivered a well balanced performance, gaining 290 yards on the ground and 172 through the air. Will Cook led the Patriot rushing attack, gaining 124 yards on 15 carries with a TD. Finley added 94 yards on 30 carries (two TDs) while Davis White had 67 yards on two carries.

Finley completed 12 passes on 19 attempts for 172 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions. He hit several receivers. Davis White had four catches for 75 yards and a touchdown while Chase Stamatis had three catches for 65 yards. Tanner Metzdorf had four catches for 23 yards and Chris Mills had one for nine.

On defense, Timothy Finley helped his quarterback cause by leading the team with 11 tackles while also delivering an interception, a forced fumble, and a defended pass. Tanner Metzdorf had nine tackles while Regan Hurley, Levi Mann and Cameron Rucker had seven each. Rucker also recovered a fumble and Cameron Blair delivered the Patriots only sack.

The Patriots, with the win, improve to 3-5 and will travel to Wichita, Kansas next Saturday to play the Oklahoma City Patriot Homeschool team. Sunrise  goes back home to host the Lighthouse Academy Chargers.