2008 Woodie Awards
Mustangs collapse in the fourth
Michael Belasco
Issue date: 10/28/05 Section: Sports
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Schaeffer, a former quarterback of nationally ranked perennial college powerhouse Tennessee, possibly would not have played the game.
Battling through injuries and constant pain, Schaeffer showed why the former Tennessee prospect was so highly touted coming into the game, as he led his nationally 15th-ranked team to a comeback victory and ended what could have a been a huge upset by a struggling Delta team in their homecoming game, 41-37.
"Delta came out gunning and I told my coach 'I'll take a little pain,'" said Schaeffer.
Indeed, the Mustangs came out gunning, taking the opening kickoff down the field on a drive that ended with Lionel Scott punching the ball in from four yards out for his first of two scores. The extra-point attempt from Russell Conboy was blocked, but Mustangs jumped out to 6-0 lead 11:35 still left in the first quarter of play.
The Giants tossed in the injured Schaeffer to get their offense moving, when the backup was unproductive.
The first quarter ended with the score 6-0 in what looked to be a low scoring game played by two burly defenses.
However, if one would have predicted the pace of them game after that quarter, they would most likely be wrong, as the two teams and their fans were in for a real nail-biter.
The Giants broke the shutout early in the second after Schaeffer completed a nine-yard pass while eluding several would-be tacklers to McIntosh Nicolas to put them on the board.
After a failed extra point attempt, the score was knotted up at 6-6.
The Mustangs answered with a play from quarterback Jeff Combie, when he connected with receiver Brandan Anson for a 39-yard score that put Delta to a 12-6 lead, that they carried for a huge chunk of the game.
The Mustangs continued to eat up clock in the second quarter and found themselves knocking on the door again at the 2-yard line. Scott plunged into the end zone for his second score.
After Conboy booted a field goal from 37-yards out, the Mustangs went into halftime with an impressive 23-14 lead.
The Mustangs came out tough again in the second half, this time with their defense. Linebacker Matt Bell picked up a fumble at the 20-yard line and returned the ball 80 yards down the field to put the Mustangs up 30-14.
Schaeffer answered with another score on a quarterback keeper.
But the Mustangs were not willing to give up their cushion, and they were prepared to continue their success, marching down the field and scoring. Combie, looking like Brett Farve, hooked up with Anson again with a nifty-looking shovel pass and Delta was out in front by two scores again 37-22.
The game however, was about to be made interesting, thanks to a play by the Giants' defense and the playmaking ability of Schaeffer.
The Giants started the fourth quarter trailing with their reputation and national ranking on the line.
Schaeffer was dazzling in the final minutes of the game, with his team's hopes of finishing in the top 10 in the nation on the line. He connected with receiver A.J. Jackson, who played the game with the flu, in the back of the end-zone on a 6-yard pass.
Despite completing 29 of 47 passes for 316-yards and two touchdown passes, Combie's game-changing completion was to the other team. Marshawn Royal intercepted Combie's pass and returned the ball to the Mustang 30-yard line.
Schaeffer inched the Giants closer when he connected with running back Teshawn Walls on a 32-yard catch and run.
The score was now 35-37 and things began to look weary for the young Delta squad.
The Mustangs' defense, being led by a strong show from the defensive line for the greater portion of the game, was beginning to falter and crumble.
From that point on, the Giants showed their true grit, playing for head coach Curtis Allen, who was dealing off-field distractions.
Jackson put the Giants ahead for the first time, after completing the hat-trick with his third touchdown reception of the game, a five-yard pass coming from the hands of running back Greg Duncan on a trick play. The game went down to the wire for the Mustangs, as they took the ball with under five minutes remaining in the game. The offense stood inside the 10-yard line, staring at the defenders of a team that most would expect to run through Delta with ease, a few yards away from pulling off what would be a ridiculously huge victory and upset for a inexperienced Delta team that has not had much to cheer about this season.
The last four downs for Delta loomed over their heads and glory appeared to be at the doorstep.
The Giants showed outstanding resilience and made the plays when they counted and held the Mustangs out of the end zone through three plays, which brought up the largest fourth down of the game.
After snapping the ball, Combie rolled out and looked to his teammates. waiting for a pass that would create pandemonium among the Mustangs. The pass was thrown, but never touched the hands of a Mustang player, and the wild ride and possible shocker was over for the Mustangs. The clock slowly ticked down to no time left in regulation and the Giants walked away with comeback victory.
The man who led them to victory, while dazzling spectators all game, however, had a new-found respect for the Mustangs, who fell to a 1-6 record.
"We played against a good Delta team, and they fought hard today," said Schaeffer, "I tip my hat to Delta."
Coaching through adversity, Coach Allen was proud of his team's efforts and was impressed by the battle put up by Delta.
"They (Delta) stepped up and played hard. They have a good team and a good coach, I knew it would be a dogfight," said Allen. "It was a great football game and I believed in my guys."
Anson, who put on a great performance, catching 13 passes for 165 yards and two scores, believed the turnovers took the momentum away from the Mustangs.
"We played an excellent game. That turnover at the end of the game gave them the momentum," said yet proud Anson.
Delta head coach Gary Barlow maintained a positive attitude despite gut wrenching loss.
"We (the coaches) felt we had a good game plan coming in. I was really proud of their (the players) effort today," said Barlow. "We have a good team. Our record doesn't show the progress of our team."