BY CHARLES CHANEY
ANDOVER, Kansas — When you hold onto the ball for 37 minutes, it’s hard to lose a ball game.
Andover showed that on Friday night, holding possession for 37 minutes and nine seconds in their 19-16 win over Goddard.
The Trojans ran for 329 yards and Pete Vega led the way with 135 as Andover found a way to limit a tough Goddard team. They trailed at halftime and never wavered.
It paid off despite giving up a late touchdown as Andover picked up their first win of the year by beating Goddard, 19-16, in overtime.
The win moves Andover to 1-2 on the year.
It’s the sixth time in the last 10 meetings where the game was decided by one possession. It’s also the second time in the last four years the game was decided by overtime.
It’s a fun rivalry brewing.
It didn’t appear fun early on as Erik Olivas ripped off a 76 yard run on the first play of the game, giving Goddard a lead they would hold on until halftiem.
The Andover defense stepped up after that. They would shut out Goddard (1-2) until late in the fourth quarter.
Andover on their own end, tried to find their offense and did so on the ground. The three-headed rushing of
Despite going 16 plays, chewing up nearly 10 minutes of game time, Andover would be stuffed on a fourth and goal, giving Goddard the ball at their own 4-yard line.
Andover had forced Goddard to punt on three-and-out after the goal line stand but a muffed punt recovered by Goddard at the Goddard 40-yard line. Andover’s defense once again was up to the task as they held Goddard on three straight plays.
The defense would stand tall again. After Goddard intercepted a pass and moved into the Trojans’ red zone, Goddard fumble and it was Nate Williams ripping it from Olivas’ arms and rumbling to midfield to give the Trojans great field position with 5:10 to go until halftime.
Andover would drive down the field and eventually settling on a 25-yard field goal from junior Pete Vega as the half expired, pulling Andover within 6-3 at the break.
The Trojans would go on another march to start the second half as they went on a 14-play drive that ate up 7:11 of the game clock. A heavy dose of Vega with a 21-yard run by Quinn to put the Trojans into the red zone. That would set up a 3-yard run by Vegas with 4:49 remaining in the third quarter as Andover took a 10-6 lead.
A 54-yard run by Barrett Hill pulled the Trojans out of their own end zone and into Goddard territory. However, Goddard’s defense would stand tall, holding Andover to a field goal. Vega would hit the 33-yard field goal with 7:14 to go in regulation and gave them a 13-6 lead.
It appeared Andover had sealed the game when Olivas fumbled and Tilson recovered, running it back to the Goddard 49-yard line. However, Goddard finally stopped Vega on a fourth-and-2 and took over with 2:00 remaining in the game.
Goddard would find Bryer Rojas on the 70-yard touchdown pass with 1:19 remaining in regulation to tie the game at 13-all.
Andover would hold on three plays in overtime defensively and it was Dawson McFadden hitting the 26-yard field goal to take the 16-13 lead on the first and only possession for Goddard in OT.
They would not get another.
Vega would pick up six on the first play in OT for Andover and then two more on second down. After Goddard held on third down, the Trojans elected to go for it on fourth-and-goal at the one. Barrett Hill was able to sneak it across the goal line for the win in an almost tush-push like fashion.
Andover ran for 328 yards and controlled the clock, holding it for 37 minutes and nine seconds of a 48-minute regulation. Goddard only ran 29 plays all night.
Vega finished with 135 yards, a touchdown and two made field goals. Quinn had 79 yards and Hill, who stepped into the quarterback duties in the fourth quarter, had 98 yards rushing and the game-winning touchdown.
Andover will get a chance to make it two in a row as they travel to Ark City on Friday night. Andover has won four of the last five against the Bulldogs, including last year’s 35-7 win.
Andover 19, Goddard 16 OT
Goddard 6 0 0 7 3 — 16
Andover 0 3 7 3 6 — 19
G – Olivas 76 run (run failed)
A – Vega 25 FG
A – Vega 3 run (Vega kick)
A – Vega 33 FG
G – Rojas 70 pass from Sullivan (McFadden kick)
G – McFadden 26 FG
A – Hill 1 run
RUSHING: Goddard – Olivas 16-114; Rojas 3-6; Manuel Phillips 1-0. Totals: 20-120. Andover – Hill 9-98; Vega 36-135; Quinn 13-79; Schumacher 2-1; N. Williams 3-19; Brown 1-9. Totals: 62-329.
PASSING (C-A-YD-TD-INT): Goddard: Sullivan 5-9-104-1-0; Rojas 1-1-9-0-0. Andover – Quinn 2-3-22-0-1.
RECEIVING: Goddard – Rojas 2-83; Manuel Phillips 4-22; Miller 1-8. Andover – Schumacher 1-10; Tilson 1-12.
