Red Devils rally, again

If this trend continues, they may become known as the “cardiac” Red Devils.

For the second straight game, Noxon has taken a game into the final minute of play before pulling out crucial victories when the outcome was anything but certain. 

They went to the last minute before pulling out a nail-biting, last play win over previously unbeaten Lincoln, on the Lynx home turf, 55-53. 

This past Friday, they staged a frantic rally in the fourth quarter during a home game against White Sulphur Springs, which came to Noxon with a 1-0, six-player conference record. 

Trailing 47-35 heading into the final quarter, Noxon outscored the visitors 24-6 in the fourth to snatch a 59-53 win from the jaws of potential defeat last Friday in Noxon. 

“They never quit,” said Red Devils head coach Lucas MacArthur. “We had less than a minute to go, no timeouts, the ball was on the five yard line and it was fourth and goal.  If we blow the play, we lose”. 

But, as MacArthur explained, the never say die Red Devils did what had to be done. 

“They ran it exactly as it’s supposed to be run and got the win with 50 seconds on the clock,” he said. “I’m proud of what this team has done this year and this game was no exception.” 

Noxon opened the game with a three-yard TD pass from junior quarterback Justice Kayser to Shane Hatchell, giving them a 7-0 lead.  White Sulphur struck back midway through the opening period when Wylie Manger broke free on a 25-yard touchdown run.  The point after touchdown was good, knotting the game at 7-7. 

Before the opening quarter came to an end, Kayser threw his second TD pass of the game when he connected with senior Chancellor McDaid on a 45-yard scoring strike. 

At the end of the first quarter, Noxon led 15-7. 

In the opening moments of the second quarter, McDaid scored on a five-yard TD run.  That score was answered by the Hornets, who scored on pass from Daniel Massee to Tanner Novark. 

Noxon matched that score when senior Ian Brown hauled in a 40-yard touchdown pass from Kayser.  White Sulphur came right back and scored on a seven-yard TD pass from Novark to Manger. 

The Manger to Novark combination struck again before the half for another touchdown, making the score 34-29 at the half in favor of the Hornets. 

At the beginning of the third quarter, Noxon struck quickly when Kayser found senior wide out Ricky Williams on a 60-yard catch and run TD that put them ahead 35-34. 

However, White Sulphur scored 13 points before the third quarter ended, one on a four-yard run by Novar, the other TD courtesy of a five-yard touchdown pass from Manger to Novark.  At that point, the Hornets were on top, 47-35. 

Then it was cardiac time, aka the fourth quarter to Noxon. 

In the first part of the fourth quarter, Williams pulled in a short, four-yard Kayser pass.  But on the ensuing kickoff, White Sulphur returned the boot 40 yards for a touchdown.  That score put them up 53-41. 

McDaid then pulled in another TD pass from Kayser, this one from 30 yards out.  And then, with less than a minute remaining, Williams caught his third TD pass of the game from Kayser. 

Those two scores put Noxon in front 59-53 and they held on for the six-point win. 

Kayser had seven TD throws during the game. 

“What stood out to me the most is that we were injured from the week before, two of our guys going out with concussions,” MacArthur said. “They fought hard to get that win.  We had guys in the game who had never played before, and they held their own”. 

Next on the schedule is a home game this Friday (Sept 27) against winless Alberton.  The win over White Sulphur boosted Noxon to 3-1 on the year and 2-0 in Western 6-player action.