Last Friday night was a nailbiter for Coach Ryan Jesop’s Switzerland County varsity football team, as the Pacers traveled to Edinburgh and battled for four quarters and then continued that battle for four overtimes.
When the dust cleared, the Lancers converted an extra point in the fourth overtime to pull out a 46-45 win.
Both the Pacers and the Lancers will play in the same conference next season – the Mid-Indiana Conference – so Friday’s game now sets the stage for what could turn into a rivalry for years to come.
The loss was painful for the Pacers, who are still looking for their first varsity win in school history. Switzerland County resumes that quest tomorrow (Friday) night when they entertain Scottsburg for Homecoming.
After a scoreless first quarter, Edinburgh scored first in the second quarter but failed on the extra point try to take a 6-0 lead.
The Pacers then took the lead when Switzerland County recovered a fumble on the 23 yard line with just under a minute left in the first half. That was followed by a “hook and ladder” play when quarterback Casper Stow threw the ball to Hunter Hayes, who in turn threw a pass to halfback Johnny Thompson, who scampered 68-yards down to the nine yard line.
The Pacers scored from there, and the extra point gave Switzerland County a 7-6 lead.
It didn’t last long, as Edinburgh grabbed the kickoff and raced 75 yards for another score, and the two-point conversion was good, and the Lancers led a 14-7 lead at the half.
Switzerland County caught a break when Edinburgh fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half, and the Pacers turned that into points, but trailed 14-13 after three quarters.
The Pacers got a touchdown in the final quarter of regulation and converted the two point attempt; and another Edinburgh score knotted the game at 21-21 at the end of regulation.
In the first overtime, Edinburgh had the ball first, and scored a touchdown, but failed on its extra point attempt. The Pacers scored when it had possesion; but a failed conversion that would have won the game instead sent the game into a second overtime, tied at 27-27.
It was 33-33 at the end of the second overtime period; and stayed tied at 39-39 after the third.
Switzerland County had the ball to start the fourth overtime period, and again the Pacers found the end zone, but again Switzerland County couldn’t convert the extra point, and led by six, 45-39.
Edinburgh then went on offense, and the Lancers scored to tie the game. This time the Lancer kicker converted the point after, and the Pacers faced a long bus ride home on the heartbreaking end of a 46-45 loss.