Hunch ends 16-game losing streak for Decatur Bulldogs
Posted on Wednesday, October 1, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/gentry/Sports/2917/
DECATUR ó Neither Hunter Beal or any of the other Decatur Bulldogs had tried kicking a field goal in a game until Friday night.
As such, Beal was a little more than unsure when Bulldogs coach Bill Brockert called on him in the second overtime.
Brockert said he had a hunch Beal could end Decaturís 4-2 A Conference shootout against Western Yell County at the 6-yard line. Turns out, the coach was right.
On third down, Beal nailed a 23-yard field goal for a 37-34, double-overtime win to break a 16-game losing streak that dated to 2006.
ì Thatís the first time weíve kicked all year, î Brockert said Saturday morning. ì When I told him he was going to kick he looked at me like, ë I donít know about this. í But I said youíll do it. He went out and he did it. Kicked her and it went. î It was nothing more than a hunch, Brockert said.
ì Heís been working hard at kicking, î the coach said. ì It wasnít a very long field goal. I figured letís just get it over with right now and not risk scoring and going into another overtime. î
The Bulldogs (1-3, 1-0 ) stopped the Wolverines (0-4, 0-1 ) on four downs on their possession of double-OT to set up Bealís winning kick. Decatur ran two plays and made the decision to end the game there with the boot that set off a wild celebration.
ì The entire community was sky high, î Brockert said of the win. ì Itís been a long time coming. There was a lot of pent up frustration, disappointment that just got loose (Friday ) night. î
Decatur quarterback Trent Arnold scrambled for three touchdowns and threw for two more. He also completed two two-point conversion passes.
ì Trent gobbled up a lot of ground, either from his arm or his leg, î Brockert said. ì He had a bunch of yards. î
His scoring passes went to Alan Becker and Jerry Yang.
ì Itís very nice to be able to line up against athletes your own size and numbers, î Brockert said of entering 4-2 A play. ì Thatís a major difference. î
His Bulldogs trailed 14-0 at halftime as Western Yell put two drives together and scored on short runs.
ì Our offense could move the ball on them, but we just needed the defense to get us the ball, î Brockert said. ì The defense didnít play horribly the first half but they let them have a lot of long drives. We ended up with maybe two or three possessions. When you have that you canít get your offense going.
ì We told our defense to get us the ball the second half. Sure enough, they did and we were able to capitalize on it. î
Arnold got Decatur on the board early and often in the third quarter, scoring on a keeper and missing the two-point conversion. The Bulldogs then scored on a pass and again missed the two-point pass, pulling within 14-12.
They went up 18-14 on an Arnold run in a long drive aided by two penalties against Western Yell.
The Wolverines answered the next play, rushing 77 yards for a score and a 20-18 lead.
Decatur came back with its second scoring pass and missed its two-point conversion for a 26-20 lead.
Three plays later, Western Yell completed a 75-yard touchdown pass but a missed two-point conversion left the game tied at 26-all, where it sat at the end of regulation.
Decatur scored first in overtime on Arnoldís scramble and two-point conversion. Western Yell answered with a reverse and tacked on its two-point conversion to knot the game at 34, setting up Bealís historic field goal.