Linganore outlasts Middletown, 40-34, in double overtime thriller
October 19, 2024
MIDDLETOWN, Md. — The Linganore Lancers (7-0) overcame a two-touchdown deficit at halftime, blocked an extra point in overtime, and earned a thrilling 40-34 double overtime victory over the Middletown Knights (5-2) on Friday evening.
Overcoming a sluggish and sloppy start to the game in the first half, Linganore came back to take a fourth quarter lead, held on to force overtime, and weathered a missed extra point attempt to pick up a crucial road victory and remain undefeated on the season.
Linganore took the opening kickoff of the game, chewed up nearly half of the entire first quarter and moved the ball up to the 15 yard line, but a fumble on the hand-off exchange was recovered by Middletown, and so the drive ended up scoreless. The Knights would take their opening possession and, just like Linganore, eat nearly all of the remaining time in the quarter off of the clock. The long drive was capped by a 6-yard touchdown run by Joseph Frizzell to give the Knights a 7-0 lead after one period of play.
The Lancers were able to respond on their next drive, as quarterback Shawn Pelovitz found receiver Chase Perry up the sidelines for a 27-yard score. The extra point was blocked, however, setting a theme for the evening, and the Knights still clung to a 7-6 lead.
Two Linganore mistakes on punts would lead to two more Middletown scores. The Lancers muffed a punt return, leading to a 15-yard TD run by Knights QB Brittin Poffenbarger. On their next possession, the Lancers were ready to punt, but the punter bobbled the snap, and was tackled deep into their own territory. Several plays later, Frizzell tallied his second rushing touchdown of the evening, this time from 9 yards away, to extend the Middletown lead to 21-6. They would take that same lead into the locker room at halftime.
But, as the second half began, Linganore emerged as a much more motivated team. The sidelines had more energy, which seemed to translate onto the field as well. After forcing a three-and-out, the Lancers needed only a few plays to march down the field and cut the Middletown deficit to a single touchdown. Pelovitz connected with Perry again for a 26-yard touchdown. Amir Short converted the two-point try, and the Lancers pulled within 21-14.
The Knights were forced to go three-and-out again, and, bolstered by great field position near midfield to start their drive, Linganore scored again. Pelovitz kept it himself and scored from 8 yards away, and Short added a second two-point conversion to give the Lancers their first lead of the night at 22-21.
On the final play of the third quarter, Middletown turned over Linganore on downs in their own territory. The Knights would begin the final quarter with the ball, and they were able to make it all the way down to the 1-yard line, but the Lancers defense stiffened and did not allow the Knights across the goal line. They would immediately capitalize on the momentum, and Pelovitz connected with Perry once more, this time on a 64-yard bomb downfield, to extend the Linganore lead. However, the extra point was missed, and the Lancers lead was only a touchdown at 28-21.
Backed up at their own 36 yard line on 4th Down and long, things seemed bleak for the Knights. But Poffenbarger dropped back to pass, threw the ball deep downfield and into the waiting hands of receiver Clinton Lee who had broken open past the defense. Lee was tackled at the 5-yard line, and two plays later, Poffenbarger ran across the goal line from a yard away to tie the game at 28 towards the end of the fourth quarter.
Heading into overtime, Linganore had possession of the ball first. The Lancers scored on a rush by running back Bradly Matthews, but, because of their kicking issues earlier in the game, called a timeout and elected to go for two. The try was unsuccessful, and Middletown would try next, trailing 34-28. The Knights were able to punch the ball in the end zone on the legs of Frizzell, and then would only need an extra point to win the game. But, the Lancers would block the attempt, sending the game into a second overtime.
In the second overtime period, Middletown had the ball, but could not score. The Knights attempted a field goal on 4th down, but the kick was no good. Linganore needed any score to win, and on the first play, Matthews ran the ball 10 yards across the goal line to secure a 40-34 thrilling victory.
Linganore returns to action next week as they stay on the road to face Thomas Johnson (2-5). Middletown will look to bounce back from their second loss of the year next week as they travel to Brunswick (5-2).
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