By Marla Jones, Sports Editor
marla@southerntorch.com
Sylvania 29-New Hope 28
This was not a dream season for the Rams. They had put in the blood, sweat and tears but it just did not mesh, until Friday night. Sylvania showed up and showed out. Coach Matt Putnam , “We’ve had a lot of growing pains this year but we are not the same team that started this season.”
On the second play of the game, Dylan Dicus ran for 43 yards giving the Rams excellent field position on the 3-yard line. Caleb Roebuck dashed in for the score with 11:00 left in the first. The kick by Nick Shepherd was good. With 2:00 left in the first, New Hope scored on a 11-yard gallop by Shane Hammond. The kick by Seth Burke was good. New Hope also scored on a 12-yard run by Jonate Cotton. The kick was good, giving New Hope the 14-7 lead going into the half.
Rams recovered the New Hope fumble on the first possession after the half. Dylan Dicus ran in the 7-yard prize. The kick by Shepard was good. With 6:50 left in the 3rd, the score was tied 14-14. With 3:48 left in the third, the Indians got revenge, scoring on a 8-yard run by Jonate Cotton. The kick was good giving New Hope the 21-14 lead. Hunter Miller had a 43-yard run setting up excellent scoring position for the Rams. Caleb Roebuck made a 3-yard dash into the endzone, with less than :08 seconds remaining in the third, for the Ram score. The kick was good, tying the game 21-21.
Neither team could score in regulation play and the game went into overtime. The Rams won the toss and opted for New Hope to take the field first. On the first play of overtime, Jonate Cotton scored on a 10-yard rushing touchdown. The kick was good. New Hope led 28-21. The Indians held the Rams until the 3rd down with the Rams stampeded into the endzone, with a 2-yard touchdown by Caleb Roebuck. Showing his daredevil side, Coach Matt Putnam went for the extra two points instead of a kick. Roebuck brought it in for the win, 29-28. Coach Matt Putnam had this to say about the game, “I’m proud of our team for getting the job done when it counted the most.” For taking down the Class 3A Region 7 leader, the Sylvania Rams were awarded the Southern Torch Team of the Week.
The Southern Torch Standouts for the night were Dylan Dicus, Caleb Roebuck and Hunter Miller. Dicus had 12 carries for 89 yards, Roebuck had 24 carries for 86 yards and Hunter Miller had 3 carries for 54 yards.
The Sylvania Rams will host the Ider Hornets for their last game of the season, Friday night.
