Lee Kicks Whitman Past Seneca Valley 16-13
Danny Lee kicked the winning field goal in overtime, contributed an extra point in regulation. **Photo from earlier in the season.
Photo By: Louie Escobar / GamedayMD.com | VIEW GALLERY
Henry Kuhn went 4 for 20 with 56 total passing yardage. He was also Henry Kuhn: 7-17 rushing with one touchdown. **Photo from earlier in the season.
Photo By: Louie Escobar / GamedayMD.com | VIEW GALLERY
Written by: Marc Bastow
GERMANTOWN, MD - Sometimes the outcomes of the biggest games come down to the smallest details. Blocking on an extra point, and making critical kicks down the stretch can make the difference between making the playoffs and spending November watching other teams compete for championships.
Those small details were won by Whitman High School on Friday night in Germantown, as the Vikings kept their playoff hopes alive, riding senior Danny Lee's 35 yard field goal in the fourth overtime to a thrilling 16-13 win over Seneca Valley.
The win moves Whitman to 7-2 (5-0), and in combination with losses by both Churchill and Springbrook, the Vikings moved back into prime playoff position in the Maryland 4A West.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the field, the loss drops Seneca Valley to 5-4 (4-2). With Damascus winning against Clarksburg, the Screamin' Eagles lost an opportunity to gain ground in the Maryland 3A West region, and are now a long shot to make the playoffs.
That Seneca Valley was even in the game long enough to get to overtime was a testament to their determination, as junior starter and team co-captain Max Nicholson was injured in last week's loss to Quince Orchard, did not practice at all last week, and suited up only as an emergency back-up. Sophomore Tanner Vallely, who had taken a total of five-live snaps during the season, replaced Nicholson.
Hindering Seneca Valley even more though, was their recent run of turnovers and mistakes, which cost them very quickly in this game.
Whitman took the opening kickoff and marched 50 yards on 11 plays, with senior standout running back Kevin Cecala accounting for 41 of those yards on his own. The drive stalled on the Seneca Valley 39-yard line, forcing a Whitman punt.
Seneca Valley's Edward Cunningham misplayed the punt and the recovery by Whitman set the Vikings up at the Seneca 2-yard line. Senior quarterback Henry Kuhn ran a third down sneak from the 1-yard line, and Danny Lee's extra point put the Vikings up 7-0 with 5:50 left in the first quarter.
Seneca Valley's fumble troubles returned on their next possession. Dionte Joppy broke off a 49-yard run to set the Screamin' Eagles up at the Whitman 7-yard line, but a fumble on the next exchange ended the threat, and the first quarter ended at 7-0 Whitman.
The second quarter was a battle of field position, and after a series of punts, Seneca Valley took over on the Whitman 45-yard line with 2:45 remaining in the half. On third and 13, Vallely found sophomore Trey Cunningham over the middle for 20 yards and a critical first down.
Two Bernard Wolley runs got the ball down to the Whitman 7-yard line, and Vallely again found Cunningham for a touchdown. Vallely displayed all the poise of a senior on the play, waiting patiently for Cunningham to clear Whitman's linebackers and threading the ball right into Cunningham's hands. Junior Arcaro's extra point tied the game at 7-7 as the teams went to the half.
The game remained tied throughout the third quarter, as neither team could move the ball successfully against stingy, tough defenses. Seneca Valley's Bernard Wolley was all over the field, and Whitman's Jeff Schaeffer was equally stout for the Vikings.
The fourth quarter featured drives by both teams that looked like game-winners but came up short. Kuhn moved Whitman 28 yards downfield from the Seneca Valley 47 with just over 5:00 minutes to play, completing a critical third down pass to Lee, then scrambling 12 yards for another key first down. However Parris's 33-yard field goal attempt was wide left.
Seneca took over on their 15-yard line, and after back-to-back runs by Bernard Wolley and Ed Cunningham of 22 and 28 yards, respectively, they were set up deep in Whitman territory. The effort stalled, and they punted on fourth and one from their own 31-yard line.
The Vikings took over on their own one, managing to gain just enough yardage, and kill just enough clock, to get the game to overtime.
Whitman's Kevin Cecala opened the overtime scoring with a 3-yard off-tackle touchdown run. Coach Kuhn went for the 2-point conversion, but Cecala was stopped one yard short, and the Vikings led 13-7.
Seneca Valley answered as Vallely found Bryan Ikossie in the flat for a 6-yard touchdown to knot the score at 13. Needing an extra point to win, Seneca's Junior Arcaro lined it up, however Whitman pushed in the line, and Arcaro's kick was blocked cleanly to keep the score tied.
Seneca Valley moved the ball to the 1-yard line on their ensuing overtime possession on three straight Wolley runs, but on fourth down a strong surge by the middle of the Vikings line stopped Wolley short of the goal line.
Whitman ran three plays on their second overtime possession, ending on their own 9-yard line. Lee lined up with Connor Gordon holding from the 15-yard line, and this time his 25-yarder was right through the middle of the uprights, as the Whitman players, sideline, and fans jumped for joy.
After all the plays from scrimmage, and the emotional highs and lows of a very hard-fought and critical game, the outcome came down to one kick missed, and one kick made.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME:
Danny Lee, Whitman
Lee kicked the winning field goal in overtime, contributed an extra point in regulation, caught one pass for a critical first down, and was used as a lead blocker for Kevin Cecala and the Whitman running game all night long.
Bernard Wolley, Seneca Valley
Wolley ran for 58 yards, caught one pass, and had 12 tackles on a night when he played every snap for Seneca Valley
THE GAME CHANGED WHEN
Whitman's defensive unit made a huge stop from the 1-yard line on fourth down in the third overtime, denying Seneca a go-ahead touchdown. Whitman kicked the winning field goal on their next possession.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Whitman Rushing:
Kevin Cecala: 28-104 1 td
Henry Kuhn: 7-17 1 td
Whitman Passing:
Henry Kuhn: 4-20-56
Whitman Receiving:
Michael Flack: 2-23
Danny Lee: 1-18
Seneca Valley Rushing:
Ed Cunningham: 3-40
Dionte Joppy: 7-18
Bernard Wolley: 12-58
Seneca Valley Passing:
Tanner Vallely: 5-7-35 2 tds
Seneca Valley Receiving:
Trey Cunningham: 2-27 1 td
Bryan Ikossie: 1-6 1 td
NEXT GAMES (11/6/09):
Seneca Valley at Watkins Mill
Whitman at Churchill
