Staff writer
The winds started howling and lightning lit up the skies around Marion High School football field on Friday as Inman had the Marion High School football team backed up against their own goal line with the score at a 7-6 Inman advantage.
Marion previously scored on a 40-yard interception return by cornerback Jordan Versch in the first quarter
The Warrior defense stopped the Teutons on two runs and forced two incomplete passes at the goal line to take over with the ball.
The momentum seemed to be shifting the Warriors’ way.
With the ball at the Marion 20-yardline, the Warriors faced a fourth-and-1 opportunity after tough runs by Randy Regnier and Les Riggs. The Warriors fumbled the snap, giving the Teutons prime field position.
Inman took advantage when Jason Friesen scampered into the end zone between his center and left guard. The Teutons missed the ensuing extra point kick with 30 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Warriors had one more possession in the third quarter. This time facing another fourth-and-1, Marion punted.
Luke Ropp ran for one first down before the Warrior defense stopped Inman on three runs and forced them to punt.
With 7 minutes, 4 seconds left in the game and the Warriors at the 40-yard line, coach Grant Thierolf told Marion running back Riggs that he was going to receive the ball on every play of the Warriors drive.
“Coach told me that he was going to put the game on my shoulders,” Riggs said.
It was only a slight exaggeration. Aside from a quarterback keeper by Dillon Richmond, Riggs ran the ball every play of the drive. He ran the ball 18 times. It was part of 29 carries and 157 yards rushing for Riggs.
The runs were not only frequent, they were also punishing. Riggs consistently fought off tacklers to gain yards. On one occasion an Inman defender had both his arms on Riggs in the Marion backfield. Riggs kept his legs churning, spun away from the tackle and gained 2 yards on the play.
Riggs ran for five first downs on the drive, three of which came on third and short runs up the middle.
Runs between the Marion tackles of 2, 3, 4, and 5 yards continued to accumulate until Marion was at first and goal.
The Warrior offensive line struggled most of the game with the size and athleticism of Inman’s defensive front. The line provided the push for Riggs to consistently earn positive yards. The turnaround befuddled the Inman defense whose linebackers were yelling at the rest of the defense to finish the game.
“The right side blocked hard,” Thierolf said. “The back side scooped hard. It was a total team effort.”
Riggs scored on an outside run past the front southwest pylon of the end zone, running upright past the goal line.
Tim Costello, the Warriors center, was in the middle of a block during the score. He said he was on the ground and didn’t even look up. He waited for the crowd reaction and when he heard the roar of the Marion faithful, he knew something had gone right.
“It was crazy. It was loud,” Riggs said of the crowd.
Riggs’ work wasn’t over. The Warrior running back ran another sweeping play to the same side of the end zone for the 2-point conversion. With Inman defenders diving to stop him, Riggs reached his right arm across the goal line to get the 2-point conversion.
“That was one of the best feelings I’ve ever felt in my life,” Riggs said of the score.
Although he said he was elated, Riggs didn’t celebrate. After the score, he calmly handed the ball to the referee and waited for his teammates to jump on top of him.
The Warriors had eaten all but 30.7 seconds off the clock, but on three pass plays Inman got into scoring position.
“I was worried,” Riggs said.
After spiking the ball, the Teutons went for the field goal try. Marion defensive lineman Connor Thierolf blocked the kick to seal the Warriors victory.
Coach Thierolf said the victory was emblematic of the heart the team has shown in the past.
He said this group of players hasn’t always had a positive football experience. He noted that in junior high they didn’t win a single game.
“It’s easy, when you don’t win, to give up,” Thierolf said.
That early resolve helped the Warriors overcome what Thierolf said was a physically superior Inman team.
Thierolf also said the team enjoys football and working hard.
“They work hard every day,” Theirolf said. “They come to practice and they’re happy to practice.”
He noted at least nine players who did not sit out a snap on Friday. Adam Cope, Thierolf, Randy Regnier, Jordan Versch, Costello, David Helmer, Dakin Ledford, and Riggs played on defense and offense for the Warriors.
“They put so much time and effort in,” Thierolf said, “that it’s hard to give up.”
stats
RUSHING — Riggs 29-157 1 TD, Versch 3-21, Richmond 9-9.
TACKLES — Thierolf 4, Cope 6, Brody Carroll 3, Cole Lewman 4, Corey Hiebert 7, Helmer 1, Ledford 5, Costello 1, Versch 2.
INTERCEPTIONS — Versch 1 TD.