St. Thomas Game

The Mavericks did not waste any time avenging themselves for the loss last week. Playing St. Thomas at Skip Lee Field St. John's lined up to receive the kickoff after winning the toss. Jett Williams who was questionable during the week with a tender ankle set the tone by returning the the ball 94 yards for a Maverick touchdown while Dan Tweardy tacked on the extra point for a 7-0 lead with just 15 seconds into the game. With good coverage from the kickoff team the Eagles were only able to get 2 yards on the return and now it was time for the defense to take the field. They decided to set their own tone and with big hits from Jack Waller, Chris Gow and John Ytterberg the Eagles ran only 6 plays for 13 yards and was forced to punt. The SJS offense then took over at their own 37 and picking up the tone set by the special teams and defense mounted their own 7 play drive highlighted by three passes from QB Josh Winslow. The first one to Will Wallace for a 37 yard gain. The next to Caldwell Flores for 8 yards and a first down and the last to finish off the drive a 15 yard catch by Will Wallace for the score. With 6:08 left in the first the Mavericks had a 14-0 lead. Tweardy and the kickoff team again put the pressure own the Eagles by pinning them inside their own 20 on the ensuing kickoff. It is never easy though and St. Thomas buckled down and mounted their own drive highlighted by a 41 yard pass finishing with a 2 yard pass to the end zone for the score to complete an 11 play 81 yard drive. After failing to convert the extra point  the Eagles had cut the lead to 14-6 at the end of the first quarter. The next possession for the Mavericks was not as productive failing to get a first down and Jack Waller punting the ball back to the Eagles. The Eagles returned the favor going three and out and punting the ball back in which Reed Daniel returned 5 yards giving the offense the ball on the 33 yard line. SJS then took advantage of their rushing attack this time with the trio of Jet Williams, Rush Moody and Josh Winslow. With Josh taking on the bulk of the load the Mavericks drove the ball 67 yards capping a 10 play drive with a 2 yard pitch from Josh to Jett for the score and a 20-6 lead. Again Tweardy and the kickoff team pinned the Eagles back on their own 17 yard line. And again the defense coming up with some big hits from Jack Waller, John Ytterberg and Walker Hobby with Jack also getting an 11 yard sack forced the Eagles to punt. Caldwell Flores returned this one for 6 yards giving the offense the ball back with 3:24 left in the half on the 46 yard line. After a few running plays from Josh and Rush the Mavericks went to the air and Reed Daniel made a spectacular catch for a 25 yard gain to the Eagle 10. After a few plays St. Thomas then sacked Josh for an 8 yard loss and the Mavericks were facing a fourth and goal from the 18. On the next play Josh dropped back to hit Will Wallace in the end zone only to have a pass interference by the Eagles giving the Mavericks a first and goal on the 3 with seconds left in the half. Josh then hit Wallace for a three yard score and the Mavericks went into half time leading 27-6.

The second half started with the Mavericks kicking off to the Eagles who returned the ball 19 yards to the 30. St. Thomas then hit two big pass plays each for 21 yards but on the next play Jack Waller with another big hit forced a fumble and Sam Dunn came up with the pig skin. Unfortunately the Mavericks were unable to take advantage of the turnover and after only 5 plays for 14 yards Jack Waller was called upon to punt. Waller hitting a 45 yarder put the Eagles inside the 20. St. Thomas then put together a 12 play 82 yard drive that finished with a 4 yard rush for the score and put themselves back into the game trailing 27-13. The Mavericks were unable to get anything going on their next possession and Waller had to punt again at the end of the third quarter. The fourth quarter started with St. Thomas having possession with good field position on their own 41. But after only three plays John Ytterberg stepped in front of a pass for the interception returning the ball 6 yards giving the Mavericks possession on their 44. Facing a third and 8 Josh hooked up with Caldwell Flores for a 33 yard completion and a first and ten on the Eagle 21. Four plays later Rush Moody takes it in from the 7 to make the score 33-13 to cap off an 8 play 56 yard drive with 3:25 left in the game. The Eagles were not going to give up and mounted a 13 play 52 yard drive only to be turned back by the Maverick defense who prevailed on a fourth and 10 from their own 18 with big plays on pass deflections coming from John Ytterberg and Reed Daniel. The Mavericks took over at the 18 but gave the ball right back on a fumble. The Eagles took advantage of this turnover throwing a 16 yard pass to bring the score to 33-20 with 3:32 to play. Carrying that momentum St. Thomas tried an onside kick and was successful recovering the ball on the Maverick 48. Running five plays the Eagles moved closer to the goal line down to the 15 when Walker Hobby intercepted a pass in the end zone giving the ball back to the Mavericks on the 20. With 2:19 left to play all the Mavericks wanted to do was run out the clock but a tenacious Eagle defense had other plans. St. John's was faced with a three and out and had to punt the ball back to the Eagles. Trying hard to get the ball in the end zone the Eagles came up with two big pass plays one for 14 yards and the other for 18 down to the SJS 16. But the Maverick defense again had their plans and William Payne came up with and interception to seal the victory as time ran out! Go Red, Go Black, Maverick Football, We're Back!