Windthorst Denies Mart 4th in a Row
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Updated: December 16, 2020
Class 2A Division II State Championship Game
ARLINGTON - The Mart Panthers (14-0) and Windthorst Trojans (14-1) faced off in the first 11-man football state championship football game of 2020. Mart was going for their 4th straight state title and Windthorst looked to win their
We played the game with the board game Friday Night Legends just before the game at the result was a 28-14 win for Mart. The teams didn't care about the board game results and teed it up Wednesday night for the real crown.
1Q
Windthorst began with the ball and were unable to get much in the first drive. Mart's stop set them up to take an early lead but the Trojan defense pushed them back initially. That was until Rodrell Freeman got involved. He was instrumental in getting them out of the early hole but the Windthorst "D" again stiffened forcing the Panthers to punt. The punter bobbled the snap giving Windthorst excellent field position.
The second time around, Windthorst took advantage of the opportunity and put together a solid drive capped by a Cy Belcher 1 yard TD dive. The Trojans led 7-0 with 2:11 left in the opening quarter. Mart began their drive on their own 30 and were driving as the quarter came to an end.
2Q
The Panthers drive ended with Freeman diving up the gut and coughing up the ball at the 3. He was ruled down before the fumble after the official's review that was overturned and ruled a fumble. Windthorst took over at their own 3 thanks to the gift. The Mart Panthers defense responded by shutting down the Trojan run game and forced them to punt from their own end zone.
The Fair Catch by Mart was turned into a 15 yard return when a Trojan picked up a flag for kick catch interference. The result was 1st and 10 for the Panthers at the Windthorst 28. Two plays later, Roddrell Freeman rambled 26 yards for his first score tying the game 7-7.
Kyle Wolf set Windthorst up in great field position when he took the kickoff return out to the Mart 42. Not intimidated by Mart's 3 consecutive state championships, the Trojans mixed running and passing (9 plays) to reclaim the lead when Cy Belcher danced in the backfield until Wolf broke open in the end zone for a 12 yard TD. 14-7 Windthorst.
Mart again put the focus on Roddrell Freeman but Windthorst was ready the first time. His next carry however, facing a 3rd and 1, Freemen slid out to the right and sprinted 65 yards to paydirt. The kick again knotted things up 14 all. Windthorst took over with 1:23 left in the half but were unable to make positive yard. Mart took two timeouts during the drive seeing they would get the ball back before the half.
The punt was taken to the 49 and the Panthers setup with 33 clicks left on the clock. Looking for another "lightning in a bottle" play by Freeman they failed to get a first down and the teams headed into the half tied.
3Q
Mart began the second half with the ball and you can bet that Coach Kevin Hoffman had them motivated to complete the 4-peat. They began their drive at their 47 and went straight to the Freeman show giving him the ball for the first four carries including a 4th and inches conversion. It was Klyderion Campbell that got the largest gain when he busted a 16 yarder to the left side in the red zone. On first and goal a holding call backed up the Panthers. Facing 3rd and goal at the 11, Freeman rolled left looking for a receiver, cutting back, he we tripped as he flipped the ball to Campbell who sliced through the defense to the goal line and FUMBLED as he was taken down. The loose ball bounced in an out of player hands in the endzone before rolling back to the 1 where Mart's Kei'Shawn Clater fell on it to keep the drive alive. Facing 4th and goal, Roddrell Freeman dove in untouched for his 3rd score of the night giving Mart their first lead of the game, 21-14.
Windthorst took over on their 40 trailing for the first time in the game with 5:21 to go in the third. The story of the drive was the Mart defense that read everything. Little or no gain on the plays and a sack forced the Trojan to end the drive with a punt. Mart started on their 22 and the Campbell and Freeman show kicked in once again. The two traded carries as the quarter ended.
4Q
The Panther drive continued as the team spread it around with running plays to a host of teammates. Facing another 4th down conversion, Freeman again gained the needed yardage as they moved to 4 of 5 on 4th down conversions. On the next set of downs, Freeman hit De'Traevion Medlock with a sideline pass on another 4th down conversion. The Windthorst defense stiffened again putting Mart in 3rd and long. Freeman scrambled to find and open receiver and a host of flags flew as holding backed them up to 3rd and 25. The screen pass left them with their 3rd 4th down of the drive - this time 4th and 19 at the 25. They again chose to go for it! Freeman tossed into the endzone catching Tristin Holt in stride. The ball slipped through his hands giving Windthorst the ball with just 4:10 to make up the 7 point deficit.
The Trojans were unable to get anything going and facing 4th and 6 deep in their own territory elected to go for it. A slant pass from Cy Belcher to Kyle Wolf in Mart territory bailed them out and kept their hopes alive. Sticking to the passing game the Trojans travelled to just outside the 20 before Fernando Alfaro sacked Belcher leaving the Trojans again facing 4th and 12. Still forced to go for it with just 1:16 remaining, Belcher hit Wolf for the first down along the right sideline.
With 1:12 to go and a 1st down at the 12 yard line, Windthorst had plenty of time to score and either go for the win or the tie and overtime. A draw play to Ethan Belcher setup the Trojans inside the 3. Cy Belcher dove off center for the first down just inches outside the end zone. Belcher's next carry ended with him standing up after the score with just 26 seconds remaining in regulation. The PAT was no good after the timeout to ice the kicker, BUT when the Trojan offensive line shifted it drew Mart offsides.
With the ball move half the distance to the goal, Windthorst elected to go for 2 points and the win. Mart again called a timeout. Ethen Belcher took a direct snap to a wide open right side of the field for the 2 points making it 22-21 Windthorst.
Starting at their own 36, Freeman ran to the right side out of bounds after a short gain to stop the clock at 13. His next play, he tossed the ball out of bounds with just 6 seconds to go. A Hail Mary down the right sideline and a declined offensive penalty ended the game and the streak for the Mart Panthers as the Windthorst Trojans won their first state title in 17 years.
The Offensive MVP went to Kyle Wolf (pictured) and the Defensive MVP was Tryston Harding.
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