Article

Oh So Close

Late Maverick Field Goal Sails Wide

Published: August 26, 2005 01:10 pm
By Chad Courrier
Free Press Staff Writer
MANKATO

The kick was heading for the right upright, a 39-yard attempt by junior Jason Tompkins. But as the ball neared the goalpost, it started to drift, slipping about a foot wide right.

The excitement from the crowd of 5,162, which seconds later had been at its highest all game, was gone, and so was the chance at victory.

"I told (Tompkins) he has to have a short-term memory," Minnesota State coach Jeff Jamrog said. "He seems OK, a lot of players were talking to him, telling him to forget it.

"I expect him to learn from it, and next time he's in that situation, he'll make it."

Northwest Missouri State, rated fifth in Division II, escaped the season-opener with 24-21 overtime victory Thursday night at Blakeslee Stadium, using a 39-yard field goal from freshman Tommy Frevert to hold off the upset-minded Mavericks.

"It's tough, it hurts," Jamrog said. "It hurts for the seniors, it hurts our football team, but we'll be a better football team for it."

Northwest Missouri State scored early, recovering a blocked punt in the end zone with 8:17 to play in the first quarter. The Bearcats turned an interception into another touchdown in the second quarter, marching 78 yards in nine plays. One play after narrowly converting a fourth-down run, Josh Lamberson found E.J. Falkner, who had used a double move to get open, on a 36-yard touchdown pass play for a 14-0 lead with 1:29 remaining in the first half.

The Mavericks were about to run the clock down inside their own 10-yard line, but the Northwest Missouri State coaches called a timeout with 40 seconds to play. On the next play, quarterback Jamie VanDenElzen completed a 37-yard pass to Kyle Krivoruchka. Two plays later, VanDenElzen completed a 36-yard touchdown pass to Tyrell Smith with just 18 seconds to play.

"I'll take the blame for that," Bearcats coach Mel Tjeerdsma said. "I should have let them run the clock out, but I got greedy."

Minnesota State took advantage of a special-teams mistake early in the third quarter when a high snap forced the punter to down the ball at the 14-yard line. On the next play, VanDenElzen threw a swing pass to Cory Jones, who bulled into the end zone.

The Mavericks drove late in the third quarter, taking the ball to the Bearcats' 15 at the quarter break. After VanDenElzen ran for 7 yards, setting up third-and-5, he passed 8 yards to D.J. Porter, and Tompkins' third PAT put Minnesota State ahead 21-14.

Northwest Missouri State took advantage of a celebration penalty to get good field position on the ensuing drive, starting at the 43. Ten plays later, on third-and-7, Lamberson passed 15 yards to Andre Rector for the tying score.

Minnesota State had the final possession, taking over at the 27 with 2:09 remaining. A couple of completions moved the ball to midfield, but a final pass was broken up at the 25.

"We were going down to score," VanDenElzen said. "We have a great kicker, and we knew if we got it around his range, he'd make it. We were going for the throat."

After a 16-minute delay because the stadium lights went out, Northwest Missouri State had the first overtime possession, which started at the 25. Three plays netted just three yards, but Frevert, who missed earlier in the game, was perfect from 39 yards.

On Minnesota State's possession, VanDenElzen scrambled to the 18 on second down, then was sacked on the next play, setting up the 39-yard attempt, which sailed right.

"I told him, it's not on him, it was a team loss," VanDenElzen said. "He was down on himself, but he was handling it pretty well."

The Mavericks host Oklahoma Panhandle State at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

 

Pat Christman

Northwest Missouri State linebacker Ben Harness (white jersey) tries to bring down Minnesota State running back Sean Treasure during the first quarter of Thursday's season-opening football game at Blakeslee Stadium. Treasure ran for 75 yards and caught four passes for 27 more.