OVERTIME THRILLER … Brayden Brink runs under a pass from Hayden Sharps for the Locos. Brink hauled in seven passes on the night for 191 yards and two touchdowns. (PHOTO BY RICH HARDING / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
By: Daniel Cooley
MONTPELIER (September 1, 2023) – Hayden Sharps had a breakout game for Montpelier, throwing for 285 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for two scores, including the game winner in overtime, to lead Montpelier past Edgerton, 34-28.
After holding Edgerton on downs in overtime, Sharps scored on the first play from scrimmage from 20 yards out, to lead Montpelier to the win.
“I think I kind of blacked out for a second after I scored,” Sharps said. “I’ve never had a feeling like this before.”
“Our coaches put together a great game plan tonight, plus the offensive line blocked for me all night and the receivers caught some great passes. It took everyone to win this. I couldn’t have done it by myself.”
Montpelier came out firing and scored on its first play from scrimmage, on a 57-yard TD pass from Sharps to Kamron Smith and Smith’s extra point kick put Montpelier up 7-0.
The Montpelier defense then came up with a goal line stand, stopping Edgerton on downs, at the Montpelier seven-yard line.
Edgerton then forced Montpelier to punt and took over at the Montpelier 25-yard line, but an interception stopped that threat.
After punting on four straight drives, Montpelier finally got it going, driving 59 yards in six plays. Brayden Brink covered the final 14 yards on a TD pass from Sharp. Smith’s extra point put Montpelier up, 14-0.
Edgerton then finally got it going, driving 54 yards in eight plays. Shaum Murphy covered the final seven yards and Parker Elden’s extra point kick cut Montpelier’s lead to 14-7.
Montpelier answered Edgerton’s score with a 57-yard TD pass from Sharps to Brink, to put Montpelier up 21-7 at halftime.
In the second half, after punting on its first two drives, Edgerton’s Joel Walkup’s 41-yard TD run cut Montpelier’s lead to 21-14.
On its next offensive series, Edgerton scored again on Maddox Baker’s 25-yard TD strike to Walkup, to tie the game at 21-21 after three periods.
But Montpelier quickly answered. Sharps hit Brink on a 61-yard pass to the Edgerton seven-yard line.
Sharps then scored from the one-yard line three plays later, to put Montpelier up, 28-21, with 10:23 left in the game.
Sharps connected with Brink seven times for 191 yards. Also, Smith caught five passes for 73 yards.
“(Brink’s) always telling me he’s open and tonight, he was,” Sharps said. “He’s a great athlete.”
Edgerton quickly answered Montpelier’s score, tying the game at 28-28 with 9:14 left in the game, on Owen Roth’s 51-yard TD run.
Roth finished with 135 yards rushing on 13 carries and Walkup finished with 54 yards rushing on seven carries.
Later, Montpelier drove to the Edgerton 22-yard line, after a 27-yard pass from Sharps to Brink. But Edgerton held them on downs from there.
In the overtime, Edgerton got the ball first, but a bad snap caused Edgerton to lose 17 yards on the first play. Baker’s pass on fourth and 23 yards to go from the Montpelier 33 was intercepted.
Montpelier then started its overtime drive from the Edgerton 20-yard line and Sharps scored on a 20 yard run to give Montpelier the win.
“Give credit to Montpelier, they put together a great game plan,” said Edgerton coach Brody Flegal. “Offensively, Montpelier played a great game.”
UP NEXT: September 8 – Cardinal Stritch (1-2) at Montpelier (2-1) 7pm; Wayne Trace (1-2) at Edgerton (1-2)) 7pm
GAME STATISTICS
EHS MHS
First Downs 13 12
Rushes-Yards 33-190 24-67
Passing Yards 94 285
Passing 16-25-2 13-40-1
Total Yards 284 352
Fumbles/Lost 3-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 3-15 3-25
EDGERTON 0 7 14 7 0 – 28
MONTPELIER 7 14 0 7 6 – 34
M – Smith 58-yard pass from Sharps (Smith kick)
M – Brink 14-yard pass from Sharps (Smith kick)
E – Murphy 7-yard run (Elden kick)
M – Brink 57-yard pass from Sharps (Smith kick)
E – Walkup 41-yard run (Elden kick)
E – Walkup 25-yard pass from Baker (Elden kick)
M – Sharps 1 yard run (Smith kick)
E – Roth 51-yard run (Elden kick)
M – Sharps 20-yard run
Dan can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com