Last Saturday, trailing 14-0 against an undefeated Stillwater squad and having just committed a turnover, the Park football team was looking for some motivation any spark to jump-start a rally.
Earlier in the season, the Wolfpack played the Ponies as well as any other team this season, but lost 10-6 when Stillwater completed its own rally.
This time, in the second round of the Section 3AAAAA tournament last weekend, it was Park looking for the comeback.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Wolfpack got the spark they needed.
During the Ponies first possession of the fourth quarter, the Park defense held its own against Stillwater, much as it had all game long, forcing the Ponies to punt. When the ball left the Stillwater punter's foot, Wolfpack defensive end Kazzim Oshodi broke through the line and got a hand on the ball. As the ball hung in the air, Park linebacker Tony Simpson drifted underneath, caught it and returned it 18 yards for the Wolfpack's first score of the game.
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"We needed something," Park coach Doug Ekmark said. "We needed something to go right for us. We were not getting any of the breaks. We thought we had outplayed them."
The interception started the Wolfpack rally. Running back Mike Starr scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to complete the comeback and send the game into overtime. But, Starr would be denied in the second round of overtime as the Ponies held on for a 28-21 victory.
"We had turnovers, there were a couple of bad calls and the bounces didn't go our way," Ekmark said. " We just continued to fight. We moved the ball well and the defense played great. We feel we outplayed them twice."
Park had possession first in the overtime and after two unsuccessful plays, scored on a third-and-19 pass play from quarterback Tyler Manning to receiver Ryan Perlt. Stillwater scored on its two possesions on 1-yard quarterback keepers, one of which was aided by a late-hit call on the Wolfpack.
Park drove the ball with its second possession. On fourth down, Starr took the pitch from Manning, but was stopped inches from the goal line, ending the game and the Wolfpack's season.
"I am proud of our football team," Ekmark said. "They battled hard. We thought we could play with Stillwater and we did. It is tough. That is sports, sometimes the breaks don't go your way."
In the first game of the playoffs, the Wolfpack went on the road and defeatedTartan 33-0.
