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Home > Blogs > High School Huddle > Archives > 2010 > November > 14 > Entry
Digesting another classic Wayne-Centerville game the day after
Close to 21 hours after it ended, I’m sitting here trying to think of the best way to express what happened at Welcome Stadium on Saturday night.
In it’s most simplistic, it was this: A 36-33 Wayne victory against Centerville in double overtime in a Division I, Region 4 semifinal game.
More simple? How about this: One of the better football games many in attendance had yet seen from two area prep teams.
Wayne quarterback Braxton Miller scored the final touchdown from 1 yard out in the second overtime. I updated this blog, threw on my coat in the press box, grabbed my notebook and weaved my way through the Wayne crowd in the home stands to get to the field.
On my way there, I dodged Wayne students, parents and fans somewhere between thrill and hysteria. When I got to the field, I could see the Wayne players scattering and coach Jay Minton doing a post-game interview on the middle of the field.
And there was Miller, with a camera from a local television station on him speaking as calmly as if it were a mid-August interview on Wayne’s practice field. After covering Miller for four years, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him more riled up than a calm confidence.
That’s one of his strengths, as he obviously kept calm following Centerville’s field goal on its possession in the second overtime. Miller ran for 12 yards on the first play from the 20-yard line and 3 yards on the second play. He handed off to running back Anthone Taylor for 4 yards, and he set up under center for the final play, a 1-yard sneak.
In those moments, reporters hope to gain some sense of the intensity, enthusiasm, toughness and excitement that goes with overtime playoff games between heated rivals. Miller was still talking calmly.
“This is what everybody was waiting for, playing Centerville,” Miller said, barely smiling. “It’s nice to pull out another ‘W.’ “
And that was it. There were a few more questions, but it was clear by Miller’s demeanor that he stays calm in those situations and isn’t prone to the heart-thumping exclamations we often see after such games. We got a few thoughts from him, and we moved on. He was satisfied, and so were we.
Minton finished his radio interview and headed for the press box to do another. On the way, while walking along the turf, I asked him to describe just how good of a game it was, with swings including an early 16-0 Centerville lead, 13 straight Wayne points, a 23-13 Elks lead in the third quarter, 10 straight Wayne points to tie by 5 minutes remaining and two overtime periods.
“Can you?” he said. “I don’t know if any of us ever really can.”
We tried to describe it, of course, with a live blog throughout the game, a game story and a column by Marc Pendleton.
As Wayne continued to celebrate, I headed toward the Cenetrville locker room, not knowing what to expect. Teams handle tough losses differently, some wanting to talk and some wanting to stay quiet.
I saw Centerville coach Ron Ullery standing by himself along a chain-link fence separating the field from the locker room area. He had his elbow on the fence and his head in his hand. I stood back for a moment, gauging his readiness to talk, and he waved me over.
“I just feel … I hurt a lot for our seniors,” Ullery said. “Just a tremendous class that kept the bar set really, really high for the guys returning. This was kind of a … it showed the character of those guys as they fought and fought and fought.”
The game was a repeat of a Week 8 matchup that saw Wayne beat Centerville 34-10 at Centerville Stadium.
“The other thing all of us wanted to do was prove was that football team that played them Oct. 14 wasn’t the true Centerville football team,” Ullery said. “I think everybody saw the real team tonight.”
Then he started looking up and went into a stream-of-consciousness commentary on the game and his team.
“Hell of a game, wasn’t it?” he said.
“Man … What do you say to them? I was at a loss in there. I wish there was something I could say.
“Hopefully they’ll wake up in the morning proud of the effort they put forth with their teammates and their buddies.
“Great game.”
Permalink | Comments (16) | Post your comment | Categories: Football
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By Eagle
November 14, 2010 7:48 PM | Link to this
That is a lot of Elk talent that is going home once again. Ullery is overrated!
By elk
November 14, 2010 10:13 PM | Link to this
Ullery had 2 turning points which costs his team. Going for it on 4th and three, late in the game. Another was waiting too long to decide to kick a FG in the third - resulting in a miss, due to the kicker being rushed. Both gave Wayne momentum, that you could feel in the stands and the fans for Centerville groaned in disappointment. Hey Ron! Sometimes playing by the book in a big game, is the right thing to do. You have made bad decisions in big games and it costs you and your team, almost every time. Play smarter. Your opponents know exactly what you are doing - Throw something at them, they’re not expecting, once in awhile.
By Impartial Fan
November 14, 2010 10:35 PM | Link to this
Did anyone listen to the broadcast of the game on 980 WONE? Talk about a mess! Those two clowns were so biased it was comical. They should never be allowed to be in front of a live mic for the rest of their lives!
By elk dad
November 14, 2010 11:40 PM | Link to this
What a terrible disappointment to lose to Wayne a second time. Coach is too predictable and needs to balance the run game with a few more passes.
By WHSFAN89
November 15, 2010 12:29 AM | Link to this
This was a hard fought game by both teams. The Elks came out to play and that showed. They are a team with a lot of heart and did not give up. Congrats on making it farther than a lot of people thought you would. I love my Warriors. They fought back and never gave up even when things looked bad. Another great team that showed a lot of heart. Time to move on to next week and bring that championship back to the GWOC. GO WARRIORS!!!
By St.X-man
November 15, 2010 3:52 AM | Link to this
I hope Wayne enjoys the win because it will be their last of the 2010 season. As usual, St. X will defeat a inferior opponent from Dayton on its path to a state championship.
By The Pope
November 15, 2010 6:38 AM | Link to this
Listen to the St.X-man. I will be watching this outcome closely…but already know the outcome. Catholics>>YEA!!!…Protestants>>NAY!!!
By IamBATMAN
November 15, 2010 7:33 AM | Link to this
There’s nothing like ELK meat with a little whine.
By Scott
November 15, 2010 7:53 AM | Link to this
Catholics YEA, Protestants NAY? Really? That is the stupidest thing I have ever read on a comment board. By the way Centerville beat Moeller
By Acehole
November 15, 2010 8:08 AM | Link to this
To Impartial Fan: Isn’t that a Huber station? I’m pretty sure it’s just like listening to Bengal anouncers do a Bengals game. To The Pope: When I went to Wayne we had Catholic players also. Also, most of St. X’s recruits are not Catholic.
By liberty
November 15, 2010 8:55 AM | Link to this
ST X man - everyone knows that St X recruits players just as most of the Catholic private schools so of course you will have the advantage.
By Warrior2012
November 15, 2010 10:14 AM | Link to this
It was a great played game for both teams! Double OT! The fans were awesome! You just keep your eyes open on Saturday. You never know what will happen! I have to say that our defense is the best! The o-line has to be good otherwise Braxton couldn’t do what he does! And last but definately not least…The A-Train (Anthone Taylor #8) you are a BEAST!
By Impartial Fan
November 15, 2010 1:26 PM | Link to this
@Acehole I don’t think it is — I’ve listened to bits and pieces of other team’s games on that station— During the season and this particular game they kept referring to it as the “GWOC Game of the Week”. Either way they are hacks!
By Eagle
November 16, 2010 10:53 AM | Link to this
St. X recruits? This is coming from someone from Wayne that has open enrollment and a QB from Springfield. Get a clue, all the schools recruit, the kids just want to go where they can win. Look at Thurgood Marshall and Dunbar, are kids going to these schools for academics?
By Outside Observer
November 19, 2010 1:14 PM | Link to this
hats off to centerville. You showed the first lost was truely not you. Look forward to more thrills in 2011. To St.X-man … U R an idiot….. I truely hope Wayne beats X badly…… We’ll see won’t we ??
By ibleedblu
November 19, 2010 2:11 PM | Link to this
i listened to the game at work and it sounded like a home wayne game no bias at all we were talking about it while the game was going on about how exicted they were for every good wayne play great game though all the same