Corvallis wins on dramatic last-play touchdown, extra point

By STEVE GRESS
Gazette-Times reporter

Billy Clontz had just one thing on his mind when he hauled in a Jason Tacchini pass in the waning seconds of Friday night's Valley League game with North Salem.

"Six. That's all," an elated Clontz said after Cory Dickson kicked the game-winning extra point for a 27-26 Spartan victory over the Vikings that went a long way to ease the sting of last week's heartbreaking loss at Sprague.

"I had to score. This is the greatest feeling in my life."

Clontz's grab and run completed a 65-yard play that began with eight seconds left and the Spartans trailing 26-20. CHS had just watched the Vikings march down the field and take a lead with under a minute to play.

"I just told Tacchini to get me the ball like Keyshawn (Tampa Bay receiver Keyshawn Johnson)," Clontz said. "I knew it was going to come back to us. It is huge to be 2-2."

When Clontz was able to reach the end zone, holding off the pursuit of a North Salem player, many members of the team and student body rushed the field, thinking the game was over and a victory for the Spartans.

But it wasn't, and CHS was whistled for an unsportsmanlike conduct foul, making Dickson's extra-point attempt a 35-yarder. The junior nailed the try.

"There was immense pressure," Dickson admitted. "But I have made it before in practice and I felt confident I could do it tonight."

The final play was designed for Clontz, one of the fastest players on the team.

"They had been doubling Cory and so we wanted to pump fake and throw the ball to the other side," CHS coach Chris McGowan said. "Billy is a shifty guy. He is skinny but deceptively fast. I think we have two good weapons (at wide receiver)."

A week ago, it was Sprague coming up with a desperation pass play with about the same amount of time left in a 14-14 game. Sprague went on to score twice in the final two seconds for a 27-14 win.

It appeared the Spartans would suffer another loss after leading in the fourth quarter. CHS led 14-12 entering the final period, but couldn't stop the North Salem ground attack. Josh Miles, who finished with 226 yards and three touchdowns, put the Vikings up 18-14 with a 4-yard run with 8:11 remaining.

The Spartans overcame a second-and-25 as Tacchini hit Dickson for 20 yards and J.J. Manning rumbled 30 yards to the Vikings 14. After a six-yard run by Nick Emmons and a face mask penalty moved the ball to the three, Manning capped the drive and a 20-18 Spartan lead with 4:30 to play.

But as they did all game, the Vikings kept the ball on the ground and went 88 yards in 11 plays. Quarterback Eric Ammon finished the drive with a two-yard score and then added the two-point conversion for a 26-20 lead with 52 seconds left.

"We are competitive," McGowan said. "When it is a close situation like that, it is just great to be in the game because you always have a chance.

"It was an emotional swing dealing with the déjà vu from last week. But the kids never quit, and you have to applaud the players."

Brad Hendrix, who just missed knocking down the desperation pass last week, got a measure of revenge with a 58-yard interception return for the Spartans' first score. It was Hendrix that kept the game 7-6 with an interception on the two-point conversion after North Salem's first touchdown early in the second quarter.

Clontz and Tacchini hooked up for a 14-6 halftime lead as the Spartans used just over a minute in the last 1:32 of the half to go 97 yards after forcing a Miles fumble deep in Spartan territory. The Vikings, who stopped Jon Strowbridge on fourth-and-goal, had gone 98 yards to the one before the fumble.

Tacchini finished with 274 yards in the air, two touchdowns and two interceptions, one that led to a North Salem score early in the third quarter. Dickson caught nine balls for 179 yards with Clontz adding the two scores and 73 yards.

"Our passing game was good tonight," Dickson said. "It feels good to win this one."

Corvallis 27, North Salem 26

NORTH SALEM 0 6 6 14 — 26

CORVALLIS 7 7 0

13 — 27

First quarter

CHS — Brad Hendrix 58 INT return (Cory Dickson kick), 5:13

Second quarter

NS — Josh Miles 34 run (pass failed), 11:02

CHS — Billy Clontz 8 pass from Jason Tacchini (Cory Dickson kick), :30

Third quarter

NS — Josh Miles 15 run (run failed), 11:33

Fourth quarter

NS — Josh Miles 4 run (run failed), 8:11

CHS — J.J. Manning 3 run (kick blocked), 4:30

NS — Eric Ammon 2 run (Eric Ammon run), :52

CHS — Billy Clontz 65 pass from Jason Tacchini (Cory Dickson kick), :00

Rushing: NS — Miles 33-226, White 11-104, Eklund 4-53, Ammon 3-9. CHS — Emmons 10-65, Manning 5-58, Strowbridge 1-2, Chaney 1-2, Roy 2-4, Tacchini 4-(minus 18)

Passing: NS — Ammon 0-1-1 0. CHS — Tacchini 13-24-2 274

Receiving: NS — None. CHS — Dickson 9-179, Clontz 2-73, Emmons 2-22