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Oak Park outlasts Rochester Adams 44-43 behind two point conversion in overtime
Trinity had every right to be nervous. The Knights were 0 for 6 on 2-point conversions in regulation, allowing Adams to rally to tie the game at 36 and force overtime despite the fact the Highlanders scored one less touchdown.
Despite his nerves, Oak Park coach Greg Carter called Trinity’s number with the game on the line. Trinity punched in the Knights’ first 2-point conversion of the game on a bruising run to give Oak Park a 44-43 win over Adams.
“It was real nerve wrecking,” Trinity said. “I actually threw up on the sideline because I was feeling it in my stomach. I really didn’t know if we had it, but I had faith.”
The Highlanders scored on the first possession of overtime when Chase Kareta rushed for a 6-yard touchdown. Adams converted the extra point to take a 43-36 lead.
Oak Park responded when quarterback D’Wan Mathis ran in a 7-yard touchdown on the Knights’ possession in overtime, setting up Trinity’s game-winning 2-point conversion.
“(We were) 0 for 100, 0 for 100,” Carter said of Oak Park’s 2-point conversions. “The one we got (in regulation) we got penalized on. We didn’t do a very good job.
“I am the worst kicking coach in America, we know that. We can’t kick extra points and we couldn’t get in a 2-point conversion. Our goal was to at least get half of those and we probably would have some room at the end of this game. You gotta credit Rochester Adams, Tony (Patritto) does a super job.”
Oak Park improves to 2-2 with the win and hands Rochester Adams (3-1) its first loss of the season.
“In our situation, we were 1-2 coming in, it means everything to us to get back to .500 and try to get on a roll and be a playoff team,” Carter said. “We played without a couple of offensive line starters, that was kind of stuff, but we had some kids step up. That’s what you have to do. We have a great group of guys. They played extremely hard. I’m glad, for them, that we got the win.”
“It’s going to create a lot of momentum,” Trinity said of the win. “Teams are going to look up to Oak Park when they see us on the schedule.”
Trinity rushed for three touchdowns in regulation, a 4-yard score on the opening drive of the game, a 1-yard touchdown in the third quarter and key 39-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to put Oak Park up 36-28 with 7:54 left.
“He’s been a great player ever since he’s been here,” Carter said of Trinity. “This is his third year. He played junior varsity, he was a standout. We’re kind of giving him the ball a little bit more. We need him to step up.
“Carl Turner came in and did a good job, some tough yards. Our running game was really good tonight and you have to credit those backs. They take a pounding, but they keep on going. I’m extremely happy with Najee and Carl.”
Cashual Goldsmith had two rushing touchdowns and Mathis hooked up with Kevoen Clark for a 38-yard touchdown for the Knights.
Defensively, Jerimiah Davis had three interceptions for Oak Park.
“Jerimiah Davis is a super player that hasn’t had an opportunity to play up until this year,” Carter said. “He got his feet wet the first couple games. Now he’s being the player that we think he can be. He’s a really good player. We’re happy for him.”
Adams quarterback Kyle Wood rushed for two touchdowns and led the game-tying drive in the fourth quarter.
Wood hit John Brucia for a 33-yard touchdown and then found Brucia again for the 2-point conversion to tie the game, 36-36, with 1:18 left.
Brucia had a 33-yard touchdown run and John Filbin had a 13-yard touchdown run for the Highlanders.
“We’re not interested in moral victories, at all,” Adams coach Tony Patritto said. “This is a loss. We didn’t play as well as we could have on either side of the ball. We didn’t quit. We feel positive. Our kids played hard. In overtime, after we execute on offense, we gotta finish that tackle for the 2-point conversion and maybe not give up the touchdown in the first place.”
