Goldbugs lose to Perry by one point

It all came down to extra points. The Alva Goldbugs traveled to Perry for their second district game Friday night and lost by one point, 20-19. It was the first loss of the season for Alva. The Goldbugs are now 5-1 for the season and 2-1 in district. In the District 2A-1 rankings, Alva is third behind Oklahoma Christian and Perry.

The Perry Maroons put the first points on the scoreboard after an Alva turnover. Alva answered quickly in six plays to tie the score at 7-7. No one scored in the second quarter, so the teams remained tied at the half.

In the third quarter Perry scored on an 8 yard pass and the margin was 14-7 with Alva trailing as the final period began. Alva scored on a quick two play drive from the 44 yard line, but the extra point kick missed the uprights. Perry scored on a deep pass but their extra point was blocked for a 20-13 lead. Alva had to cover the distance from the 16 yard line, making it in 11 plays to score. It came down to going for two points and the win or kicking for a tie. The Goldbugs tried for the win but couldn't make the conversion, losing 20-19.

First Quarter

Perry won the toss and chose to keep the ball. The Maroons started well, gaining 20 yards on a handoff from quarterback Mason Drake to Jace Burdick. On the next play, Goldbug Garrett Ritter sacked Drake for a nine-yard loss. The Maroons only recovered three of those yards before having to kick the ball away.

Unfortunately, Alva's possession was short-lived. Mitchell Meyer handed the ball to Dalton Hess who was immediately stopped by Burdick. On the next handoff, Hess was hit and the ball popped out. Burdick recovered.

Perry drove to Alva's eight yard line, but the Goldbugs took Drake down for another loss. It wasn't enough to stop the Maroons who scored and made the extra point.

Alva wasted no time answering with a drive that culminated in a 42 yard scoring pass play from Meyer to Hess. Cameron Gordon's extra point kick was good, and the score was tied a 7-7.

Perry was at third and four when Drake threw to Wyatt Boyd. They would have made the first down but were called for holding, negating the play. That set them back to third and 19. An incomplete pass left them with no choice but to punt.

With little time left, Alva made it to the 16 before the quarter ended.

Second Quarter

The Goldbugs couldn't make the first down, and Perry took over. The Maroons were helped by back-to-back Alva penalties, a 15 yard personal foul followed by an unsportsmanlike conduct. Soon Perry was just two yards from the goal. The Goldbug defense tightened the line, holding Perry for no gain, and then dropping Hadyn Redus for a loss of two. On the fourth down, just four yards from the goal, Drake handed off to Blayze Hirlinger. The Alva defense stopped him two yards short of scoring.

From their two-yard line, the Goldbugs had a lot of ground to cover. They made it to the 26 before having to punt.

Perry tried putting Brody Harbour in as quarterback for one play. He passed to Drake who caught the ball. Alva was called for pass interference but it was declined. At second and five, Drake handed off to Redus who was dropped by Stephen Willyard for a loss. Hirlinger was able to gain five yards, putting Perry within five of the goal. Drake tried a throw into the end zone, but it was incomplete. Time ran out, and the ended with the teams tied at 7.

Third Quarter

Alva couldn't make their first down after Kaden Hensley was tackled for a loss and Meyer was pushed out of bounds behind the line of scrimmage. At fourth and eight, Meyer had to punt.

Perry made their first down with an assist from an Alva penalty for too many on the field. That put the Maroons on the Alva 26. Then Perry earned a face mask penalty. Despite the setback, they continued their drive, making it to the Alva 16. On the fourth play, they were at Alva's eight yard line. Drake threw to Blayne Douglass for the TD, and Henry Lee's extra point kick was good. Perry now led 14-7.

The kickoff drew flags for both teams. Perry was called for blocking and Alva for holding in offsetting penalties.

Runs by Meyer and Hess made the first down for Alva. Meyer ran 24 yards to get the ball to the 43. On the third down, Alva had three yards to go. Meyer's pass play drew lots of flags. Offsetting penalties of pass interference and ineligible downfield player were called. Alva also drew an unsportsmanlike conduct which set the ball back 15 yards. The Goldbugs couldn't recover and had to punt the ball away.

Perry started on their 46 yard line and drove to the Alva 25 in just four plays. In three more tries they were at the Alva nine. A Drake to Redus handoff gained four. Kohl Witter ran for another two, and Perry was three yards from scoring. Drake was tackled for no gain by Arturo Cisneros. The Goldbug defense put on the pressure, and Drake's throw into the end zone was incomplete.

The quarter ended with Perry leading 14-7.

Fourth Quarter

Alva was helped on their next series by a Perry penalty for off-sides, but Meyer was sacked right after the snap on the third play to put the Goldbugs back five yards. In a third and ten situation, Meyer connected on a pass to Reece Martin who made a big run to near centerfield. Meyer faked and kept the ball to gain nine yards. A handoff to Hensley lost a couple of yards. Meyer passed to Gavin Perez who caught the ball, but the Goldbugs were called for holding which negated the play. With 13 yards to go and an incomplete pass, Alva had to punt.

Perry moved the ball four plays and was stopped at the 42.

Starting at the 44, Meyer kept the ball for a nine yard run. He handed off to Hess who ran the remaining 35 yards to the goal. Gordon's extra point kick was no good, and the Goldbugs trailed by one at 14-13.

Perry put on a drive from their 20, making it to the Alva 17 where Drake threw a deep pass to Burdick in the end zone. There was some question that Burdick had his toe on the line, but the referees ruled the TD good. Alva received another unsportsmanlike penalty. Then Perry had a false start to back them up five yards for the extra point. The snap was high and the ball handler lost it. Perry now led 20-13.

With just over two minutes to go, Alva had move fast. A couple of passes were incomplete, but Meyer connected on a pass to Dalton Rose. Perry was called for pass interference. Alva was now at the Perry 45. But a false start flag moved the Goldbug line back to the 50. On his second try, Meyer connected with Martin to make the first down.

A couple more good passes from Meyer to Martin put Alva one yard from the goal. Meyer handed the ball to Hess but an illegal shift call put the ball back to the six yard line. Meyer's pass to Martin was incomplete. Then Meyer threw on the run to Hensley who caught it for the touchdown. Alva trailed by one at 20-19.

In a conversion attempt to win, Meyer was heavily pressured, rolled back and couldn't connect on the pass. Alva was called again for a dead ball unsportsmanlike conduct. That backed up the kickoff from the 40 to the 24.

Gordon tried a high onside kick, but Perry gained possession. The Maroons took a knee, and the clock ran out.

Up Next

The Goldbugs will be at home next Friday as they take on the Luther Lions. Luther has won only one game so far against Oklahoma Centennial with a season record of 1-5. With a 1-1 district record, they are ranked fourth behind Alva.