Jul 30, 2010
Friendswood escapes with win over Manvel in 4 OT's
October 27, 2009
FRIENDSWOOD — Friendswood head coach Steve Van Meter has been in some memorable games over the past 18 years as the head coach for the Mustangs -- but the win over Manvel in four overtimes will certainly go down as one of the top 10 wins in his remarkable coaching career.
Last season - Friendswood and Manvel battled to the final play as the Mavericks went for a two-point conversion to win the game, but came up a foot short allowing the Mustangs to escape with a 21-20 win in Manvel.
This past Friday night at Henry Winston Stadium - the game finished at 14-14 at the end of regulation sending the contest into overtime.
Both teams scored in the first OT to make the score 21-21. Manvel scored in the second OT, but missed the extra point.
On fourth down for Friendswood, Beau Barnes grabbed a 10-yard touchdown from quarterback Peter Maetzold to tie the game at 27-27, but the Mustangs were flagged for excessive celebration and Zach Hardy’s extra point attempt from 35 yards barely missed sending the game into a third OT.
Neither team could score in the third OT. In the fourth overtime, after Matt Kennemer snagged an interception on defense, Hardy kicked the game-winning field goal.
However - that didn't come without more drama as the field goal attempt by Hardy bounced off the crossbar leaving the two teams to face a fifth OT. However, Manvel was called with an offside penalty which gave gave Hardy another shot at being the hero. Hardy connected on the 34-yard attempt to give Friendswood the thrilling victory.
“This was kind of fun,” Friendswood coach Steve Van Meter said. “That’s why you are in the business. That was about as high as I’ll ever get after a football game.”
Andrew Cole scored both touchdowns for the Mustangs during regulation.
After trailing 7-0 at halftime, Cole scored on a 9-yard run with 8:52 left in the third quarter and then tied up the game on a 25-yard pass reception from Maetzold with 10:58 remaining in the final stanza to tie up the game at 14-14.
Cole added another score in the first OT on a 9-yard run to tie up the game 21-21 after Hardy booted the all-important extra point.
Cole finished the game with 26 carries for 126 yards and two touchdowns while grabbing four passes for 42 yards and one score.
Maetzold was 18-for-37 passing for 251 yards and two scores but suffered three interceptions. One of those bounced off the hands of one of his receivers in the Manvel end zone during regulation that could have made the difference in the outcome much earlier.
Sophomore Jonathan Johnson had six catches for 122 yards.
“We kept playing and kept playing,” Van Meter said. “I’m proud of the way our kids responded to a lot of controversial calls. Manvel was a real tough team, but we hung in there.”
The Mustangs improve to 5-3 on the season and more importantly, 3-2 in the tight District 24-4A playoff race.
Angleton has clinched their place in the post-season at 5-0 while Friendswood (3-2), Dawson (3-2), and Santa Fe (3-2) remain in a tie for second place. La Marque (2-3) and Texas City (2-3) are still in contention with Brazosport (1-4) and Manvel (1-4) needing a miracle finish and some help.
Friendswood travels to face Brazosport on Friday, October 30 at 7:00 p.m. at Hopper Stadium and then will host La Marque in the season finale on Friday, November 6 at 7:00 p.m. The Mustangs need to win out to nail down their position in the post-season.
Manvel will travel to face La Marque on Friday, October 30 in a must-win situation and then host Angleton on Friday, November 6 at 7:00 p.m. The Mavericks must win out as they are facing an improbable task of making the playoffs. In all likely hood - the Mavs will be playing for pride as they close out the 2009 season.