Last second goal-line stand earns NRHEG first win

Forty-seven minutes and 59 seconds of nail-biting football between NRHEG and Sleepy Eye United (SEU) was decided by a failed last-second trick play by the Storm from the Panthers’ four-yard line, resulting in NRHEG earning its first opening-night win in five years.

Following their final timeout with 1.4 seconds remaining, SEU opted for a reverse pass back to the quarterback – similar to the “Philly Special” play that the Philadelphia Eagles used to beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII – but failed to hit the open quarterback in the endzone as pressuring Panthers forced an errant throw.

“Play after play after play, our guys just kept working. That last play, I don’t even know what to say… I’m at a loss for words with how hard these guys work. I’m just so happy for our team,” said first-year NRHEG Head Coach Devin Lockerby immediately following the win.

Lockerby’s first win with the program was a memorable roller coaster ride that everyone in attendance wearing red, white and black experienced together.

The Panthers took the initial lead of the game in the first quarter when running back Sean Lassahn plunged into the endzone from two yards out.

Following a successful two-point conversion, NRHEG led 8-0 and held its one-score advantage into the second quarter.

SEU responded by putting together a short scoring drive following an interception to start the second, but NRHEG’s red-hot offense was firing on all cylinders in its next possession.

Panthers’ quarterback Brooks Gilliland made up for his mistake by connecting with wide receiver Ryan Schlaak for a 55-yard passing score followed by another successful two-point try to move the score to 16-7.

NRHEG managed to stop SEU quickly on the Storm’s next possession, but a bit of bad luck struck the Panthers in their next offensive drive.

Gilliland hit an open receiver square in the chest on a crossing route, but a mistiming on the catch caused the ball to fly up into the air where it was intercepted again by another SEU defensive player and returned for a pick-six to tighten the scoring at 16-15 with 3:01 left in the half.

The Storm’s big momentum-shifting play got the home crowd fired up, but it was quickly silenced again on the ensuing kickoff when Panthers’ return man Tyler Piepho found a seam and took the ball 60 yards to the house for another NRHEG touchdown.

Piepho’s big play sparked another two-point conversion – making NRHEG three-for-three to start the game – and gave the Panthers a two-score lead at 24-15.

NRHEG’s defensive pressure finally caused the SEU offense to crack in the next possession when a fourth-down punt attempt from inside the Storm’s 20-yard line was blocked by Lassahn to give the Panthers an instant redzone opportunity with 1:17 left in the half.

The Panthers continued to grind down the Storm with their physical run game and were rewarded with another short touchdown run by Lassahn to lead 30-15 by halftime.

NRHEG appeared to take control of the game to begin the second half with another quick scoring drive capped by a Lassahn one-yard rushing touchdown, but the Storm would not go down without a fight.

Despite trailing by 21 points halfway through the third quarter, SEU never lost hope and continued to grind its way back into the game.

The Storm put together two quick scoring drives in less than eight minutes to trail 36-31 with 7:52 left to play.

Instead of pinning the Panthers deep on the kickoff, SEU decided to roll the dice and attempt an onside kick into NRHEG’s unprepared front row; a decision that earned the Storm the ball back.

SEU was able to march quickly down the short field for another touchdown drive to take its first lead of the game at 36-31 with 5:18 remaining.

“They gave us the ball back. That’s all I said on the sidelines, ‘We’ve got time.’ That was the message,” said Lockerby on what he told his team after giving up the lead late in the game.

With the game on the line, NRHEG’s offense navigated a series of close calls including a fourth-and-12 scare where a pass from Gilliland to Schlaak brought the chain gang onto the field for a measurement that went the Panthers’ way for a first down.

With time quickly disappearing and one minute left in the game, Lockerby did nearly the unthinkable: He called a run play.

“I knew we still had over a minute left and three timeouts. I trusted those guys. We ran the ball really well all game and you just have to find one hole,” said Lockerby on the play call.

In near perfect synchronization, Lassahn took the handoff and the offensive line opened a hole for the star running back to find space to run down the Panthers’ sideline.

With one defender to beat, Lassahn shed a desperate tackle attempt from a Storm secondary player and burst free with nobody to catch him.

“I’m just thinking, ‘I have to make a play.’ I have to step up for my guys every single play. We all worked our tails off and I think everyone on our team gave everything they had tonight,” said Lassahn.

The touchdown and failed two-point attempt put NRHEG up 42-37 with 58 seconds left in the game.

SEU received the ensuing kickoff and immediately began exposing the Panthers’ secondary.

The Storm traveled nearly half the field to the Panthers’ four-yard line while facing little resistance, setting up the Storm with their one last attempt from the four-yard line with 1.4 seconds left.

While SEU opted to get tricky, NRHEG brought enough pressure to force an incomplete pass and walk away with a 42-37 win.

“This day started with a lot of nerves and to end it with a win… I’m just so thankful to be here and be with these guys. It’s something that I’m never going to forget,” said Lockerby on his first win as NRHEG’s head coach.

Player Stats

NRHEG

Passing

#4 Brooks Gilliland – 6/19 96 yards 1 TD 2 Int.

Rushing

#6 Sean Lassahn – 25 att. 117 yards 4 TD; #2 Ryan Schlaak – 1 att. 2 yards; #4 Gilliland – 1 att. -5 yards

Receiving

#2 Schlaak – 3 rec. 76 yards 1 TD; #6 Lassahn – 1 rec. 8 yards; #7 Calvin Nissen – 1 rec. 7 yards; #24 Tyler Piepho – 1 rec. 5 yards