Sports
Sheridan Survives Triple-Overtime Thriller Against New Lexington
By: Matt Cudahy
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The Sheridan Generals avoided an upset in a triple-overtime thriller against the New Lexington Panthers, winning 20-14.
Sheridan traveled to New Lexington sitting at No. 11 in the playoff rankings, so a win was necessary to stay in contention.
The Panthers got on the board early in the first quarter with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Bradley Clapper to Dimitri Williams.
That would be Clapper’s only touchdown pass of the night. Overall he was 15-of-36 with 168 yards.
Running back Trevor Davisson and the Generals would not stay down for long as Davisson would tie it up midway through the second quarter on a 37-yard touchdown run up the middle.
Davisson also got help in the backfield from Deryk Grosse who accumulated 103 yards on 33 carries. However Grosse had the case of the butterfingers tonight, losing control of the ball twice — turning it over both times.
The Generals’ defense also stepped up big time Friday night amassing four interceptions.
After a hard fought first half, the score heading into the locker rooms was tied, 7-7.
The Panthers and the Generals would trade touchdowns in the second half, but neither of them could separate themselves. Both teams were leaving it all on the field so it was only fitting that this game would head to overtime, tied 14-14.
New Lexington won the coin toss and elected to start with the ball. The Panthers’ first possession would end in a missed field goal, leaving the door wide open for Sheridan.
However the Generals matched the Panthers by missing a field goal of their own.
In the second overtime neither team could get anything going and both drives concluded in turnovers. That meant the game would be heading for an elusive third overtime.
The story of this game came down to Sheridan handing the game over to New Lexington, and the Panthers handing it right back.
New Lexington turned the ball over on downs on its first drive of the third overtime, and that would be its last chance. A few plays later, Dupler scampered up the middle for a 17-yard touchdown run, securing the much-needed win for the Generals.
For the New Lexington Panthers, their season is over as they ended with a disappointing 3-8 record.
And now for Sheridan, it becomes a waiting game. OHSAA will release its official playoff pairings Sunday.