LSG’s 2011 Games Of The Year #7
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Updated: August 11, 2012
2011 Texas High School Football Games of the Year
Once again, we went through more than 200 finalists when choosing our top 25 and once again, it was tough to decide. You’ll remember from our show that breaks down some of the “Games that Didn’t Make the Cut,” that there were many great games that didn’t make it into this Top 25.
#7 (Argyle -- 35, Carthage -- 34 2 OT)
Unfortunately for Carthage, this will be the first but not the last time they make our list…on the losing side of things. The Bulldogs were 0-3 in games decided by 3 points or less during the 2011 season, providing some excitement but never producing any wins from it. However, Carthage did come into the game at Vernon Newsom Stadium with an impressive resume.
In order to advance to the next round of the playoffs, the Argyle Eagles would have to dethrone the 3-time defending state champion Carthage Bulldogs and end a 20 game playoff winning streak along the way. The kicking game would play an important role in this matchup, and record setting Argyle kicker Cole Hedlund was right in the middle of it all.
The scoring opened midway through the first quarter with Argyle converting a Hedlund 29 yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead. However, the Eagle offense would go silent over the next 23 minutes of play. Carthage then rattled off 3 straight touchdowns - a 1 yard rush by QB Blake Bogenshutz, a 50 yard pass from Bogenshutz to WR Edward Pope, and a Trent Jackson 6 yard run.
Midway through the second quarter, down 21-3, Argyle was staring at elimination by the Bulldogs for the second straight year. However this 12-1 Argyle team had already avenged a loss to Prosper in the round before, and was hungry for another. A Chad Bossow 1 yard run and a Hedlund 25 yard kick pulled Argyle within 8 at the half.
Starting QB Austin Aune went to work early in the 3rd quarter, tossing a 20-yard TD pass to Bossow. An Ian Sadler run for the 2 point conversion was good, knotting up the game at 21 a piece.
It was a whole new ball game going into the fourth quarter, and neither team was going down without a fight. Carthage's Jackson scored on a 1 yard TD run with 11:16 to play in regulation. It took a great deal of time and a huge Carthage personal foul to extend the drive but the Eagles finally responded with a TD of their own via a 5 yard, fourth down conversion by Aune. This tied the game 28-28 with just under 4 minutes to play.
Argyle drove the field on the final possession of regulation and lined up for the game winning field goal attempt. Cole Hedlund looked poised to send Argyle to the next round. However, the kick sailed wide left as time expired, sending the game into overtime.
On the opening possession, Argyle held Carthage on a fourth and one conversion attempt. Argyle lined up for yet another game winning kick. The snap rolled back to the holder before being frantically placed on the tee, and the 27 yarder once again sailed wide left to go into a second overtime.
The Eagles scored on their possession - a 9 yard end around TD run by Sadler. Carthage with their backs against the wall, needed to answer. The Bulldogs did just that on their first play of the 2nd OT. Tevin Pipkins ran 25 yard for paydirt. A 2 point conversion would give Carthage the win - a missed attempt would hand the win to Argyle.
While lining up for the conversion, confusion resulted in a delay of game penalty. Sophomore placekicker Jimmy Gonzales then lined up for a 25-yard PAT to send the game into a third OT. The kick went up but clanked off the uprights and landing on the turf. The kick was no good. Fans went wild and players dropped to their knees. The Eagles had avenged the 2010 Regional Championship game 44-27 loss to the Bulldogs with the thrilling 35-34 double overtime victory to move on to the next round in 2011.
Perhaps the quote of the night came from Argyle’s Carston Bossow, “When I’m 80 years old, if I make it that far, I will never forget this day in my life. This is what Texas high school football does for you.”
Carthage would end the season at 9-4, all four losses coming to AP 3A Top 10 teams by a combined total of 17 points.
Listen to the wild call right here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/cdogg/CarthagevsArgyle.mp3
| by Taylor Brasher www.lonestargridiron.com |
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