Nick Hyde hoists flag into Sellers Park. (Eric Rinehart photo)

by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Gut checks are defined as evaluations or tests of a person’s resolve. Friday night, Wellington passed a huge one with a 36- 26 victory over Goddard Eisenhower.

On a beautiful night in front a large raucous hometown crew, Wellington would seize the fourth quarter and come away with a 10-point victory. Wellington’s last offensive drive was a 14-play, 79-yard drive that took over eight minutes and broke open a 28-26 nail biter into a double digit lead with 28 seconds to play. (See photo gallery by Eric Rinehart here).

It was the type of drive, the Crusaders could use as motivation the rest of the season. Starting at its own 21, Wellington would use four different running backs, and get an assist from some spiritual being to help secure a game winning touchdown.

Fans were loud and boisterous for this one, especially the student section.

Three times in the drive, Wellington would secure a first down on a third and long. The third was the most improbable. Wellington was in a third-and-15 situation when Connor Phelps fumbled the ball. And for the second straight game, a fortuitous bounce landed in the hands of Wellington’s huge offensive lineman Connor Burnett who would rumble his way to the 5 yard line for a first down.

Three plays later, Wellington’s Chris Kop would plunge into the end zone to give the Crusaders an eight-point lead. In need of an extra point to make it a two possession game, Wellington would go with Kop again, who would get through to put the Dukes in front by 10.

The Tigers would need a miracle finish with just 28 seconds to play to win this one. That miracle threat was quickly snuffed our by Co. Phelps who snagged the interception.

Phelps, a three-year starter, played like one Friday night. He would rush for four touchdowns, and would end up with 212 yards on 32 attempts which made him the 15th Crusader 200-yard performer in a single game, and having the 13th best yardage game in Wellington history.

But a victory was never a certainty until the final seconds, as both teams took turns shooting itself in the foot.

Wellington survived despite itself. It would fumble three times, all of them at the worst possible times. Goddard Eisenhower couldn’t really hold onto the ball either, and never got its potentially lethal passing game to mesh.

The game opened with an Ike score nullified by an illegal shift. Then a hike over the head of its punter gave Wellington life at the 15. The Crusaders couldn’t capitalize and turned the ball over on downs. But then Ike fumbled. Wellington fumbled. Goddard Ike went nowhere and with 5:13 to play in the first, Wellington finally scores on a Phelps one foot plunge.

But that lead was quickly dashed when Drake “Speed” Damon would return the kickoff for a touchdown. The PAT gave the Tigers a 7-6 lead.

Wellington defense pulls off big stops.

Wellington would then piece together a nice drive early in the second quarter only to fumble within the 3. The Crusader defense thwarted Ike and would take over back on the Tiger 30.

This time the Crusaders would score on a Phelps 1 yard drive at the 4:33 mark of the second quarter.

Ike would respond with a 37-yard touchdown throw from Mason Matzey to Damon on its next drive. A botched PAT kick was the only thing separating the two teams 14-13 at 2:06 to play in the half.

On the kickoff, Wellington would find itself pinned deep inside the 10 and would then fumble. Before the half a 10 yard touchdown throw from Madzey to Elijah Hamilton made it 20-14 Tigers.

  The second half could not have started better for the Dukes. Phelps would immediately burst through the seams and scramble 60 yards for a touchdown to give Wellington a 22-20 lead.

The Dukes would never relinquish that lead. It would tack on a touchdown to start the fourth quarter on a Phelps 3-yard plunge.

Still Goddard Ike would not go away. It would go on a seven play 65 yard drive that ended with a Matzey quarterback sneak. The two point pass failed and Wellington preserved a 28-26 lead with 8:45 to play.

The Tigers would never see the ball again until it was too late.

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