Williams fell to Trinity 34-28 in a back-and-forth affair at Farley-Lamb Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Ephs made a valiant effort to fight back from a 14-0 first half deficit and take a fourth-quarter lead, but overtime went the Bantams' way to deal Williams a tough loss.
Quarterback Owen Johansen made a number of huge plays during the game, finishing with a season-high 311 passing yards in addition to 75 yards on the ground, but the biggest moment was a 73-yard touchdown pass to Zach Falls in the fourth quarter.Â
With the score tied at 21 and the Ephs facing a 3rd-and-8, Johansen faked a handoff and sat in the pocket, waiting just long enough for Falls to streak open over the middle. Johansen delivered a perfect strike that Falls caught around midfield before turning on the jets down the left sideline.Â
The touchdown put the Ephs ahead, 28-21, with 10:32 to play, and capped a huge game for Falls, who finished with five catches for 165 yards and the touchdown.Â
The play was also part of an electric, back-and-forth fourth quarter, as both teams hit on chunk plays, scored on multiple drives, and battled into overtime.
"I think it was a great game," Coach Raymond said. "You saw two good teams battle it out and unfortunately they made a couple more plays to win it."
The game did not initially look as if it would end up in overtime, as Trinity seemed to be in control after scoring touchdowns on its first two drives and forcing Williams into two quick punts. The Bantams took a 14-0 lead into second quarter.Â
However, Johansen found his stride on the third offensive possession for Williams. On a 2nd-and-8 from the Williams 27, he took the ball up the middle and bounced to the right sideline, eluding multiple defenders for a 52-yard gain that woke up the crowd and flipped the momentum in the Ephs' favor.Â
The team capitalized on the big gain on 3rd-and-goal from the 3, when Johansen lofted a pass into the back of the end zone to Jimmy Montesano, cutting the deficit to 14-7 with 10:14 to go in the half.
Neither team would score again in the first half, and the Ephs, despite the deficit, outgained the Bantams 192-123 in yardage in the half.
Offensive fireworks began early in the second half for the Ephs, as Johansen launched a deep ball to Falls on the first Williams drive. Falls made a great play, leaping above the Trinity cornerback to haul in the 46-yard pass at the six-yard line. One play later, Johansen hit Montesano on a slant for the pair's second touchdown of the game, tying the score at 14 with 9:43 left in the third quarter.Â
Montesano complemented Falls, finishing with seven catches, 76 yards, and two touchdowns of his own to boost the Ephs' aerial attack.
Entering the fourth quarter with the score still tied at 14, the Ephs had moved the ball inside the red zone, but appeared to settle for a short field goal when the special teams unit came onto the field.Â
Rather than holding for the field goal, however, Riley O'Connell sprang loose and threw into the end zone for Falls, forcing a pass interference penalty that allowed for Jon Oris to fight into the end zone on the next play and give Williams its first lead of the game, at 21-14 with 14:11 left.
After a Trinity touchdown in response, Johansen hit gold on the long pass to Falls. But another fast Trinity touchdown drew the score level at 28 with under eight minutes left.Â
The Ephs were forced into a punt on their next drive, but Leonardo Mauiolo pinned the Bantams back at their one yard line. However, Trinity moved the ball all the way up to midfield, and looked to be in position to ice the game in regulation, before a crucial defensive stand by Williams.
With just under a minute to play, Ben Yedid burst through the line and strip-sacked Trinity QB Jaxon Carroll, and the ball was jumped on by the Ephs' Leslie Williams. The turnover would force overtime, which ended quickly after a Williams turnover and a 25-yard Trinity touchdown pass iced the game.
Next Saturday, the Ephs look to rebound against Bowdoin College on the road, with kickoff at 1 p.m.
