WESTON -- The difference between victory and defeat for Lewis County on Friday evening came down to a total of 12 seconds. That 12-second lapse was the difference in a 20-19 win for Class AAA No. 1 University.
The Hawks scored two touchdowns during those 12 seconds in the second period, enabling them to claim a hard-fought win.
"This was a strange game," University coach John Kelly said. "We got the fumble for the touchdown and then recovered the fumble in the end zone on the bad snap in the second quarter, but after that Lewis County controlled the game."
The Minutemen controlled the game throughout with time-consuming drives that were spearheaded by Curtis Holden. Holden carried 36 times for 153 yards and one score. In all, the Minutemen ran for 221 yards on 61 carries while the Lewis County defense held the Hawks, who were without their starting backfield combination of Adam Cantoni and Scott Gyorko, to just 95 yards on 27 carries.
"I think we outplayed them all night except for that span," Lewis County coach Eddie Williams said. "The run was working for us, so we kept doing it, and our defense was able to shut them down."
University took a 7-0 lead in the first period on Dan DiGiovine's 7-yard run, but Lewis County knotted the score at 7-7 early in the second.
It appeared the hosts were ready to take the lead as they drove to the 3-yard line, but a botched pitch was picked up and returned 97 yards by Ben Bradley.
"Our quarterback called an audible, and only half the team heard it," Williams stated. "It's just one of those things."
