HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – Bandys High always enjoys a good start — especially if it has a little hard work involved — and the Trojans had to put in some OT to get a football victory on Friday night.
BANDYS 42
ST. STEPHENS 40, 2 OTs
Down at one point by three touchdowns, the Trojans rallied and eventually beat host St. Stephens 42-40 in double overtime to win a season-opening game for the 15th time in 17 seasons.
The outcome was the 11th game the two rivals have played since 1987 that was decided by 10 or fewer points (see details below).
It took a defensive stop to win it. The Indians went for two points after passing for a TD but the conversion pass fell incomplete and the Trojans won.
Bandys nearly had a victory in hand earlier in the game, tied at 34-all, but St. Stephens blocked an extra point to stay alive.
The Indians led 28-7 at one point but running back Ethan Howard then began to help the Trojans work their way back. His 26-yard scoring run closed the margin to two TDs.
JaTay Culliver’s 28-yard run got the Trojans within a TD and they tied it when Howard ran 5 yards for a TD.
St. Stephens regained the lead when running back Xavian King scored on a 2-yard run but the Trojans again mounted a drive and got a tying TD (34-34) on a pass from Culliver to Travis Russell.
The Indians had the ball first in the first OT but didn’t score, and they blocked a field goal attempt by the Trojans to force a second extra period.
Bandys has the ball first in the extra frame and Culliver scored from the 2 and Howard added a two-point conversion, making it 42-34.
St. Stephens quarterback Justin Bullock threw a TD pass to Teavious Henry to close the Indians within two points.
The victory moved Bandys head coach Trent Lowman a win away from being a 20-game winner at his alma mater, and he can do that Friday at 7:30 p.m. by beating Fred T. Foard at Bandys.
St. Stephens, 14-33 since Wayne Hicks took over the program in 2013, goes to Bunker Hill on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
NOT FOR THE WEAK OF HEART
Bandys and St. Stephens have a history of playing intense varsity football games decided by just a few points. Here’s a look at their games decided by 10 or fewer points since 1983:
Year Game site Result
1987 St. Stephens Bandys 21, SS 12
1988 Bandys SS 20, Bandys 12, OT
1990 Bandys SS 12, Bandys 10
1992 Bandys SS 12, Bandys 7
2001 Bandys SS 28, Bandys 25
2005 St. Stephens Bandys 36, SS 27
2006 Bandys SS 21, Bandys 19
2008 Bandys Bandys 28, SS 27, 2 OTs
2015 St. Stephens SS 16, Bandys 14
2016 Bandys Bandys 36, SS 29
2017 St. Stephens Bandys 42, SS 40, 2 OTs
SOURCE: HobbsDailyReport.com files.
Comments 1
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