Fairfield quarterback Chase Pinion's heart dropped into his stomach as he watched the pass he'd just thrown picked off by Bremen's Cody Barrier and run back for a go-ahead touchdown.
Instead of a 21-21 game where a field goal could win it, the Falcons now faced having to go 80 yards in 1:16 needing a touchdown and the extra point to avoid another sectional loss.
They did just that and captured the program’s first sectional title with a 28-27 win over the Lions.
“It was pretty insane,” Pinion said. “You want to hang your head but you’ve got to go back out.
“I was thinking, 'Get it done. Rely on your teammates’.”
Pinion received plenty of support from his teammates.
“I knew Chase was going to make the throws,” senior center Nathan Stichter said. “We just needed everyone to believe.”
Senior Micah Noble said the team had been confident about its chances on the drive that ended in the interception.
“I told the guys in the huddle we have to believe,” he said. “We had to stay positive because there are a lot of ups and downs in football.”
With 80 yards to go and just over a minute on the clock, everyone knew Pinion would have to throw. His offensive line was determined to give him the time he needed.
“Block everyone,” said senior guard Dylan Haberstich about the line's mindset. “Don't let anyone get close to Chase.”
Pinion was appreciative.
“The offensive line was awesome all night,” he said.
Pinion then went to work, throwing passes that not only netted first downs but also allowed the receivers to get out of bounds to stop the clock. In their best sustained drive of the night, the Falcons pushed down to the 13 with 15 seconds remaining.
Junior receiver Tanner Foust then ran into the corner of the end zone and Pinion's pass was on the money. But the Bremen defender disrupted the play just enough that Foust couldn't hang on.
Pinion wasn't worried.
“He's a big playmaker,” he said. “I knew he was going to get one so I just kept throwing it to him.”
The next play was the exact same route. This time Foust got a step of separation from the defender, the throw was perfect and this time he caught it easily.
The drive was especially satisfying for Pinion after a sometimes rough season. He had started the year as the understudy of senior Justin Scott. But when Scott tore an ACL in the fifth game of the season, it thrust Pinion in the spotlight.
“I worked as hard as I could,” he said about filling in for Scott. “I listened to what Coach Miller says, and God helps out.”
Pinion filled in admirably, but there were struggles at times - like the two interceptions he threw against Bremen. But when the spotlight shone brightest and hottest in the final minute of the game, he proved he was up to the challenge.
On the final drive, he fired the ball quickly and confidently, completing six of the 12 passes he threw. All six completions gained first downs.
Sports
Young Falcon QB shows resiliency
- Sports
-
-
COLLEGE CONNECTIONS: Ex-Raider Troyer excels for Wesleyan
Senior Derrick Troyer (Northridge) poured in 21 points for the NAIA D-II No. 14 ranked Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats in a 94-87 Mid-Central Conference win over the Bethel Pilots.
-
FROM THE SIDELINES: EN trip triggers hoop memories
Visiting the “Big Blue Pit” in Kendallville on Saturday for the Goshen-East Noble boys basketball game stirred up a multitude of memories.
-
OUTDOOR COLUMN: Replacing the new with the old
If the statement came from any other angler, I would have instantly dismissed it. But Russell Chatham is no ordinary fisherman. He knows whereof he speaks.
-
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Gridiron Knight
One of the most disruptive parts of Concord’s “Strike Force” defense over the past two high school football seasons — Jarrett Settles — has decided to take his football talents to Marian University in Indianapolis.
-
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Panthers roll
Using some of the best parts of their arsenal — superior size, quickness and speed — the NorthWood “Black Swish” jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in winning the program’s 22nd high school girls basketball sectional championship Saturday night in the Class 3A final at Wawasee.
-
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Heartbreak for Raiders
Oh, so close.
The Northridge girls basketball team was within sight of a Class 4 sectional championship Saturday night at Goshen High School. -
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Leafs drop a heartbreaker
Last time the Goshen College men’s basketball team faced MCC foe Spring Arbor University, the Maple Leafs had their worst offensive output of the 2011-12 season in a 60-48 loss on the road.
-
GIRLS BASKETBALL: On to the finals
Northridge’s very young girls basketball team — a squad without a single senior — has the Raiders within one victory of the school’s first-ever sectional championship.
-
Panther-Charger final
The No. 3-ranked NorthWood “Black Swish” survived an upset bid by a determined group of Fairfield Falcons Friday night in the high school girls basketball Class 3A sectional at Wawasee.
-
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Kelly, Irish reshuffle coach lineup
When a football team falls short of its goals, changes are often made to the coaching staff.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Bacteria Keep Swimmers Off Some Fla. Beaches
Police: Houston Found Under Water, Unconscious
Sandusky Can See Grandkids, Have Local Jury
Obama Unveils $3.8 Trillion Budget
Raw Video: Israeli Embassy Car Attacked
Coroner: Don't Know Houston's Cause of Death Yet
Valentine Greetings Sent Worldwide From Loveland
Greek Austerity Measures Spark Riots
Raw Video: Obama Budget Goes to Capitol Hill
Arab League Wants U.N. Help in Syria
Nordic Festival Puts North Korea in Spotlight
'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys
Grohl, Grammy Nominees Cut Up on the Red Carpet
Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
