Moeller escapes Centerville

Elks’ 50-yard FG attempt falls just short with no time left

Centerville High School running back Tristin Boykin (18) breaks through the Moeller defense in the Crusaders’ 21-19 win Friday night, Sept. 11, at Centerville.

Staff photo by Jim Noelker Centerville High School running back Tristin Boykin (18) breaks through the Moeller defense in the Crusaders’ 21-19 win Friday night, Sept. 11, at Centerville.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Photos: Moeller vs. Centerville

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By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer Updated 5:32 PM Saturday, September 12, 2009

CENTERVILLE — Ron Ullery, the Centerville High School football coach, was hoarse.

He stood outside his team’s locker room, looked out on the field and paused.

“I don’t know if I can even think anything right now,” Ullery said.

Most in Centerville Stadium felt the same. The Elks, who trailed by eight points in the fourth quarter, rallied to attempt a 50-yard field goal on an untimed down with time expired, but the failed kick sealed the emotionally charged 21-19 loss to Cincinnati Moeller on Friday, Sept. 11.

Centerville (2-1), ranked No. 1 in the Dayton Daily News Division I ratings, lost for the second consecutive season to Moeller (3-0), and the losses came by a combined five points.

The Elks led 10-7 at halftime before a Chris Kuzma 29-yard field goal with 7:41 left in the third quarter made it 13-7. Moeller quarterback Andrew Hendrix, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound Notre Dame commitment, then got going after a quiet first half and led the Crusaders to consecutive touchdowns for a 21-13 lead. The second score was a 41-yard touchdown pass to Max Richey on third-and 27 with 1:56 left in the third quarter, although Hendrix finished just 6-of-15 for 79 yards passing.

After trading drives, Centerville took possession at its 35-yard line with 9:51 left in the game. What followed was a 16-play, 65-yard drive that exhausted 7:20 and finished with a 1-yard run by quarterback Zak Bertram, who finished the game with 102 yards rushing.

The two-point conversion attempt was stopped at the 1-yard line, and the Elks continued to trail 21-19 with 2:31 left.

After stopping Moeller on three runs, Centerville regained the ball with 23 seconds left on its own 37. Two Moeller personal foul penalties, including one after time expired, gave Centerville an untimed down from the 33-yard line. Kuzma’s 50-yard field-goal attempt was two yards short.

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