The Estevan Elecs' best effort of the season went down the drain on what appeared to be a blown call in overtime.
The Central Cyclones escaped with a 29-27 victory Saturday in Moose Jaw when quarterback Parker Chow found Jonah Branning with a 10-yard pass on third and goal, followed by the Cyclones converting the two-point attempt required in overtime.
However, Elecs defensive back Riley Meshke knocked the ball out of Branning's hands and to the ground.
According to the Moose Jaw Times-Herald, it was ruled that Branning had possession long enough for it to count.
"(Meshke) made a great play on the ball to dislodge the ball from the Central receiver as it arrived. The ball went through his hands and hit the ground. It was an incomplete pass. For some reason it was ruled a touchdown," said Elecs head coach Mark Schott.
"That was disappointing to say the least and tough to recover from for our team, to refocus and defend that two-point conversion. They were definitely distraught after the game. They went through a lot in those final couple of plays."
Schott, who has filed a complaint with the Moose Jaw High School Football League, said he and his high school team went through the gamut of emotions.
"Frustrating, disappointing, it's a devastating way to lose a game. Anger is also in there, but we have to move on. It's unfortunate and it sucks. We can't spend too much time dwelling on it because we have another game coming up (on Saturday against the Swift Current Colts) and we have to refocus, because our season's not over. We're playing great football right now and we just have to channel that energy in a positive way, so we can continue playing the way we did on Saturday and come away with a couple of wins."
With the teams tied 21-21 after regulation, each team got one possession in overtime. The Elecs went first and quarterback Andrew Kehler completed a five-yard touchdown pass to Christian Pfeifer on third down.
"We had a nice mix of run and pass plays on offence all game, and we continued to do that in overtime, running both Levi Pick and Kolby Dyck and working in some passing plays," said Schott. "(Pfeifer) made a great play to hang onto the ball. He took a pretty brutal hit when making that catch and had to leave the game because of it."
The Elecs failed to punch in the two-point convert, giving them a 27-21 lead. Then they nearly ended the game before Central gained the red zone.
"Central's offence took the field and our defence played well. They had a phenomenal game. We sacked their quarterback in overtime. They were facing third and long and they threw the ball up and our defensive back made a good play on the ball. He went to knock it down but in doing so, he batted it right into another receiver's hands for the catch. The game could've ended on that play."
Most of the scoring in the game came after halftime, as the Cyclones led 7-0 at the half on a 20-yard reception by Branning, who had all four touchdowns for Central.
Each team had three turnovers in the first half, with the Elecs picking up an interception and forcing two fumbles.
"We traded turnovers, but both teams were moving the ball. It was just a great football game. Our defence was phenomenal, right in their quarterback's face the entire game. Offensively, things finally clicked for us, and we had great success, both on the ground and in the air, moving the ball."
Elecs receiver Dallas Dowhanuik tied the game late in the third quarter with his first of two touchdowns, reeling in a six-yard pass from Kehler.
Barely a minute later, Branning struck again, taking a pass from Chow and romping 67 yards to the end zone.
Dowhanuik tied it again four minutes into the fourth quarter on a 22-yard pass and run play.
The Cyclones replied quickly again, with Zach Hagerman running back the kick 73 yards to set up a two-yard plunge by Branning.
"It was just back and forth. Both teams were able to answer each other after big plays and respond with a big play of their own. It was an amazing football game, and it's unfortunate and disappointing that a game that was so exciting for everybody there ends in controversy and is tainted in the way that it is now because of that final play," said Schott.
The Elecs forced overtime with four minutes left when Kehler connected with Clark on a five-yard major.
Schott said the Elecs are playing their best football right now and can't let Saturday's outcome affect them going forward.
"The main thing is just getting to the right place mentally, being able to use what happened on Saturday as motivation for the rest of our season, because everything just clicked for us on Saturday. It was a great game on both sides of the ball."
The Elecs (0-4) have two home games to close out the regular season. On Saturday, they host the Colts (2-1) at 3:30 p.m. at Dana Quewezance Memorial Field. On Oct. 14, they play the winless Vanier Vikings.
"They're a dangerous team. They're a team that's deceiving on film because they don't look like they have a lot of size, but they play hard," Schott said of Swift Current. "They throw the ball a lot, which will test our defensive backs and secondary. It's going to be an exciting game because they always play hard and they're a fun team to play against."
