HOMECOMING NIGHT IN WAUSEON … Wauseon junior Braylon Miller tight ropes the sideline in front of the Patriot bench. (PHOTOS BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
By: Jesse Davis
WAUSEON (September 22, 2023) – A series of wild turnovers in the final minutes of an already tumultuous and penalty-rich game left Wauseon unable to overcome a determined Patrick Henry Patriot squad during the former’s homecoming game Friday night.
Wauseon took the lead early when junior defensive back Braylon Miller recovered a Patriot fumble on the fourth play of their drive and ran it 40 yards for a touchdown. The extra point put the Indians up 7-0.
After getting the ball back, the Patriots made it past the 50-yard-line despite an illegal procedure penalty, but were again stymied when a pass intended for Thomas Smith was intercepted by Indian Kahle Albright. Wauseon was unable to capitalize on the turnover, going three and out.
The Patriots and the Indians then traded three-and-outs before trading longer fruitless possessions that saw Patrick Henry dinged for holding and Wauseon receiving penalties for jumping offsides and an illegal block after a big hit by linebacker Austin Kovar.
Wauseon’s next drive came down to a fourth-and-two punt fake attempt that at first seemed successful before a flag for holding brought it back for fourth and 10.
A short punt by Tyson Rodriguez set up the Patriots on their own 43, and four short plays later running back Houston Miranda ran 10 yards for a touchdown.
In a move that would become a theme throughout the game, Patrick Henry successfully performed a two-point conversion, bringing the score to 8-7.
The Patriots took a shot at getting the ball back with an onside kick, but it was recovered by the Indians.
Patrick Henry managed to force a punt after just four plays, but fumbled on the first play of their drive, leading to an immediate 20-yard touchdown pass by Trey Parsons to Rodriguez.
A successful extra point kick brought the score to 14-8, where it would remain through two unsuccessful drives and the end of the first half.
Unfortunately for the Indians, the second half would bring a string of mishaps starting on their first drive with a near interception on the second play, a sack by Patriot linebacker Tyler Rodriguez on third down and a bad snap on a 4th and 21 punt attempt leading to a turnover on downs at the Indians 3-yard line.
The Patriots only needed one play for Miranda to run it in for a touchdown, which was followed by another successful two-point conversion, bringing the score to 16-14.
The Indians again went three-and-out with another near interception, and in five plays the Patriots found the endzone with another run from Miranda, followed by another two-point conversion which put Patrick Henry up 24-14.
Wauseon seemed to regain their composure and momentum, marching down the field all the way to the 1-yard line before trouble arose.
On first and goal, it appeared the Indians made it in, with the side judge at first signaling a touchdown before the head official changed the call to second and inches.
The Indians failed on their second and third attempts, and a loss of yardage on the third forced them to kick a field goal from the five-yard line, dropping the gap to 17-24.
Wauseon then held the Patriots to three and out, and after the punt had the ball at their own 33-yard line.
In just one set of downs the Indians took a penalty for an illegal chop block and the Patriots took one for holding, before Rodriguez tripped during a fourth-down conversion attempt with inches to go, losing half a yard and possession on downs.
The Indians caught another penalty for jumping offsides during the Patriots’ drive, which only lasted briefly before Miranda scored his third touchdown of the game and another successful two-point conversion put them up 30-17.
A pair of offsetting personal fouls against each team left the kickoff return at the Wauseon 42-yard line.
This time, despite another holding penalty against the Indians and another offsides penalty against the Patriots, they were able to hold on until Rodriguez caught a 20-yard pass from Parsons and also kicked the extra point to put them in striking distance at 30-24.
A near-perfect onside kick by Rodriguez was recovered by Kovar at the Patriot 42-yard line, but confusion on the field stopped the drive with an Indians timeout in order to prevent a penalty for delay of game.
When they lined up again, what at first looked like it might be a touchdown pass to running back Ryan Friend was fumbled at the five-yard line and recovered by Patriot Brock Behrman.
The Indian defense was able to hold the Patriots to three and out with just under two minutes remaining in the game and it appeared they would have one last shot to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, but the very next play saw a pass into the endzone intercepted by the Patriots, who were then able to run out the clock and hold onto their lead to win 30-24.
UP NEXT: September 29 – Wauseon (4-2, 2-1 NWOAL) at Delta (3-3, 1-2 NWOAL) 7pm.
PATRICK HENRY 0 8 16 6 – 30
WAUSEON 7 7 3 7 – 24
W – Miller 40-yard fumble return (Rodriguez)
PH – Miranda 10-yard run (Creager pass from Meyer)
W – Rodriguez 20-yard pass from Parsons (Rodriguez kick)
PH – Miranda 3-yard run (Creager pass from Meyer)
PH – Miranda 8-yard run (Smith pass from Meyer)
W – Rodriguez 23-yard field goal
PH – Miranda 9-yard run (conversion failed)
W – Rodriguez 13-yard pass from Parsons (Rodriguez)
Jesse can be reached at jesse@thevillagereporter.com
