Pekin junior Cael Baker gathers his thoughts after a heartbreaking loss against Highland.
In the decade-plus I have been covering high school football, I have seen a wide range of ways a football game can come to its conclusion.
I’ve seen games end on bobbled snaps during an extra point attempt, defenses making one final stand to keep their opponent from scoring a game-winning touchdown and I’ve seen overtime touchdowns lead to victory.
But, no ending was quite like the one I witnessed between the Pekin Panthers and Highland Huskies earlier this season.
Before I begin my breakdown of this contest, I need to clarify that this was a fantastic game all around, and the ending just took it to another level and into my top spot for the best game I covered in 2019.
Entering this week six showdown I had covered a string of blowouts and even mentioned to Jackson Kane the Sports Editor at the Sigourney News-Review, that I was really hoping for a good game, and boy did I get one.
Highland versus Pekin was one for the memory book
Pekin, the road team in this contest, struck first riding the legs of senior Dayne Eckley for a three-yard touchdown run on the game's first possession.
Highland scored their first touchdown early in the second quarter when sophomore quarterback Connor Grinstead scored on a six-yard touchdown run. The Huskies missed the extra point, something that will be important later on.
On the ensuing kickoff, Eckley proved why he was one of the most dangerous players in southeast Iowa, returning it 85 yards extending the Panthers lead to, 14-6.
After Eckley pushed the Panthers lead to 21-6 on a 72-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter, it was time for the Huskies special teams to make a play.
Junior receiver Owen Donovan, caught the ensuing kickoff, made a couple of defenders miss and outraced the Panthers 78 yards, cutting the lead to 21-12. Once again the Huskies missed their extra point attempt.
Early in the fourth quarter, the two teams traded scores. Pekin pushed the lead to 24-12 on a 28-yard field goal by senior Levi Rohr, before Grinstead completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Zane Arnold, once again the Huskies missed their extra point, making the score 24-18.
With the clock winding down under five minutes, Highland seemed to be on their way to scoring the game-tying touchdown when Grinstead’s pass was intercepted by Pekin senior Kennan Winn, who would have returned it for the game-sealing touchdown had Grinstead not tracked him down, preventing the score.
Aided by a chop blocking penalty the Highland defense was able to stop Pekin from taking advantage of the turnover, giving their offense a little over two minutes to try and win the game.
After a handful of pass completions, one of which was nearly intercepted by Pekin junior Justice Kirkbride, the Highland offense found themselves at the Pekin one-yard line.
Without any timeouts, Highland spiked the ball on first down stopping the clock with 45 seconds left. From there they attempted back-to-back quarterback sneaks, both denied by the Panther defense.
Scrambling for one final attempt, the Huskies got the snap off as time expired, Grinstead dropped the ball but quickly recovered it, lunging forward behind his offensive line he was met by a wall of Pekin defenders.
Highland quarterback Connor Grinsread picks up the ball before lunging forward for the game-tying touchdown as time expired.
The two teams piled up at the goaline, as both crowds anxiously waited for the referees signal. In all the chaos, Pekin junior Cael Baker emerged from the pile with the ball, sending the Pekin sidelines and crowd into a
euphoric cheer, so much so that Baker himself did a backflip in celebration.
However, the Panther's moment of euphoria was instantly soured after the deliberation by the officials led to the signaling of a touchdown, tying the game at, 24-24.
Both teams lined up for the extra point, something Highland failed at their three previous tries, this time though, the kick by Owen Donovan sailed over the crossbar by mere inches, giving Highland the victory by the closest of margins.
Football truly is a game of inches and the number one game I covered in 2019 proved that in the most memorable fashion.
Game ball for Highland goes to quarterback Connor Grinstead who completed 10 of 18 passes for 182 yards, rushed for 32 yards, scored three touchdowns and had a game-saving tackle.
Highland game ball recipient Connor Grinstead leaps into the endzone for the Huskies first touchdown
Game ball for Pekin goes to Dayne Eckland who carried the ball 26 times for 215 yards and scored two touchdowns along with an 85-yard kickoff return for a score.
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