News and Announcements
Posted: 2006-10-15
GAME SUMMARY: Varsity vs. Novi
Hartland outlasts Novi in overtime, 6-0
By Jeff Theisen
GANNETT NEWS SERVICE
NOVI — Hartland crushed Novi's hopes of making the playoffs with a 6-0 overtime victory Friday during the Wildcats homecoming.
"We knew coming in that if we played hard-nosed football, then we had a chance," Hartland head coach Marcus Dukes said. "They played their hearts out.
"We're not looking to ruin a homecoming, but you'll take a win any way you can get it."
Eagles senior quarterback Ryan Wilkins snuck in from the 1-yard line to score on fourth down of the first overtime possession.
"We had a couple of our senior offensive linemen say, 'Let's do it.' I said, 'All right,'" Dukes said. "We were going to ride those horses, and they got it done."
The extra point was blocked as the momentum appeared to shift to the Wildcats for their turn from the 10-yard line.
Hartland (2-6) stuffed the first run for no gain. Novi (3-5) was called for two men in motion, making it second-and-15 before an incomplete pass made it third-and-15.
Backup junior quarterback Mark Heard completed a 5-yard pass to Stefan Figurski to get back to the original line of scrimmage for fourth down.
Heard rolled the pocket out but his pass fell incomplete, sending the Hartland sideline into a frenzy.
Both offenses produced next to nothing through the first four quarters. At the half, Hartland had 90 yards of offense to Novi's 61.
At the end of the game, things didn't look much better with the Wildcats winning the total-yardage battle 160-157.
Hartland punted eight times to Novi's six.
Drew Mixter had almost half of the Eagles' yards with 78 yards on 23 carries.
But it was the 1 yard by Wilkins that proved to be the difference. He also completed 4-of-6 passes for 44 yards with one interception.
Heard led Novi with 39 yards on nine carries. He came into the game early in the second quarter when starting QB Adam Chandler went down with a shoulder injury.
"We lean on the strength of our team and that comes on the defensive side of the ball," Dukes said. "I think both teams came out and played excellent football. They got after us, and we got after them. We got a break in the end that we needed, and that was the difference."