Blackfoot tops Pocatello in OT on 2-pt conversion
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POCATELLO — With an incredible individual effort from senior quarterback Hunter May, Pocatello came back from an early deficit against Blackfoot to force overtime. But a gutsy decision and gritty work from senior running back Tanner Ellis proved to be the deciding factor in a 29-28 overtime thriller in Pocatello Friday night.
May, who struggled early, found a groove in the second half and led a game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter.
The Broncos (2-1) could not answer in regulation, sending the game to overtime tied, 21-21. After May threw his second scoring pass of the game, the Thunder (2-1) could not keep Blackfoot out of the endzone on fourth down — or on a 2-point conversion to decide the game.
When asked what went into the decision to go for two with the game in the balance, first-year Blackfoot head coach Josh Stewart referred to the popular proverb: that fortune favors the bold.
“I believe in them, and I felt like, ‘why not?’ he said. “We’d been struggling on defense, especially in the second half. I felt like, if we could just win the game there, that would be the right thing to do.”
The Broncos went 0-9 last season, leaving many of this year’s seniors having never tasted varsity victory.
Stewart said that he has been amazed by the resilience the entire squad has shown, not just from last year to this, but from a rough loss last week and a late surge from the Thunder Friday.
“These guys have been through a lot of adversity the last couple years, and then we, kind of, got our butts kicked last week by Skyline,” Stewart said. “I’m just so proud that they don’t give up. … Resilience. These kids are resilient.”
“A million things” went wrong for Blackfoot Friday night, Stewart continued. But when the team needed a play, they made it.
The same can be said of Pocatello’s star quarterback.
Before halftime, when he was officially named Pocatello’s Homecoming King, May and the Thunder had been able to muster little offense. And what they did, came late. Pocatello did not get on the scoreboard until the final play of the first half, when May scrambled off the right edge to finish a 64-yard drive highlighted by his 41-yard connection with wide receiver Cody Kons.
Then, with time winding down, trailing by seven and facing a fourth and 11, May made a play that belongs on SportCenter.
May was pressured quickly by the Blackfoot front, but escaped the grasp of sophomore defense end Kai Brooks. He had to give 10 or so yards to do so, and continued to give ground as he evaded several additional Broncos — and Brooks a second time.
Finally, he created enough space to flip a perfect pass to receiver Kayin Mowry for 14 yards and a new set of downs.
One play later, May hit a Hunter Cordell on a slant for a 26-yard score to tie the game with 6:40 remaining.
But May was not done with his cape yet. Three plays later, in at safety, he made a leaping interception to take the ball back near midfield.
Pocatello had a 45-yard go-ahead touchdown run wiped away on a holding penalty and were left to attempt a long field goal, which they missed.
May hit Cordell on a beautifully run hitch-out route, creating around five yards of space, to score on the first possession of overtime.
May finished the game completing 20 of 31 pass attempts — including his last eight and 11 of his final 12 — for 263 yards and two scores. He added 73 rushing yards and two more scores.
But it was Ellis who had the final two laughs, crossing the goal line on fourth down to make the score 28-27. Then, he took a sweep off the right edge back into the end zone for a two-pointer to decide the game.
He toted the rock 28 times for 140 yards and the one score.
“The kid is tough, and he runs hard,” Stewart said of the workhorse back.
Ellis said he “absolutely” wants the ball in his hands with the game on the line.
“I like being the guy, being depended on,” he said.
“We just didn’t give up,” the senior added. “We fought through adversity — it was just a good battle, overall.”
Pocatello will travel to Butte, Mont. next week, to face Sandpoint. Blackfoot will face Madison on the road.