Playing their first road game, and first game on a grass field, in 2024, West Liberty’s football team came within seconds of its first victory of the season.
West Burlington had other ideas.
Converting on a two-minute drill, the Falcons upended the Comets’ chance at a first win in 2024 and kept their own undefeated season alive with a 27-22 win.
The critical moments of this game all came within the final 135 seconds of the contest.
With two minutes and 13 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, West Liberty scored the go-ahead touchdown. Senior Ryker Dengler hit junior Owen Daufeldt over the middle of the field for a 16-yard score.
This set the scoreboard at 21-20 in favor of West Burlington. Initially, West Liberty set up for an extra point try.
However, after a discussion on the sideline, the Comets sent the offense back on the field for the two-point conversion.
The decision paid dividends as the Comets tacked on the two points. On a play action, Dengler spun to his right and found an uncovered Briggs Collins as the sophomore put the Comets on top by one.
On the ensuing kickoff, an offsides penalty on West Liberty helped the Falcons start their final drive at their own 40-yard line.
Without much of a passing game, the Falcons kept the ball on the ground. West Burlington posted positive plays of seven yards, four yards and eight yards before taking its second timeout of the half.
With 1:19 to play, from the Comets’ 44-yard line, the Falcons hit a reverse run that went for a 24-yard gain.
The next play brought West Burlington to the 12-yard line with just under one minute to play.
After stopping the Falcons for no gain on the next play, the Comets were caught with 12 men on the field. It did not matter as West Burlington quarterback Landry Haberichter scampered into the endzone for the game-winning score.
Despite failing on the two-point conversion, the final score of 27-22 held as the Comets were unable to mount a comeback with just 35 seconds left and zero timeouts remaining.
Earlier in the game, senior Seth Axsom provided the Comets’ offense. He scored the first two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving. He hauled in eight passes for 97 yards. He also rushed 11 times for 15 yards.
Dengler completed 19 of 28 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.
The Comets’ leading rusher Friday night was Collins who only needed two attempts to gain 22 yards.
Defensively, West Liberty was led by senior Caden Laughlin who recorded 6.5 total tackles. Other standouts included senior Bryson Garcia (5.5 tackles, one sack), Dengler (5.5 tackles), senior Crager David (five tackles) and junior Perry Lehman (five tackles).
While this season has not started the way the Comets have hoped, non-district play is only part of the equation.
West Liberty can change the course of their season by starting strong within Class 2A District Four as Tipton will come to town on Friday.
The Tigers are 2-1 on the season with wins over Class ‘A’ Louisa-Muscatine (70-0) and Class 2A Vinton-Shellsburg (53-6).
Tipton lost last week to Class 3A Mount Pleasant 33-24.
Last season, the Tigers ended a four-game losing streak to the Comets by winning 21-11 in Tipton.
Season statistics summary
Passing yards
Ryker Dengler, 611.
Rushing yards
Ryker Dengler, 56; Seth Axsom, 53; Owen Daufeldt, 43; Briggs Collins, 22; Axell Polanco, 21.
Receiving yards
Seth Axsom, 295; Owen Daufeldt, 84; Tully Griffith, 68; Braden Bickford, 61; Cole Wagamon, 61; Briggs Collins, 27; Axell Polanco, 9; Cameron Iske, 6.
Total tackles
Tytan Griffith, 15.5; Ryker Dengler, 12.0; Tully Griffith, 11.0; Seth Axsom, 11.0; Perry Lehman, 10.0; Briggs Collins, 9.5; Bryson Garcia, 9.5; Caden Laughlin, 9.0; Crager David, 9.0; Owen Daufeldt, 8.5; Cameron Iske, 6.5; Kaden Wiele, 6.5; Jamison Rud, 3.0; Ryan Laughlin, 3.0; Landon Wainwright, 2.5; Enrique Michel, 2.0; Cole Wagamon, 2.0; Axell Polanco, 1.0; Braden Bickford, 1.0; Miles McConnaha, 1.0; Johanan Lopez Vileta, 1.0; Gable Underbakke, 1.0.
Sacks
Bryson Garcia, 1.0; Jamison Rud, 1.0.
Fumble recoveries
Seth Axsom, 2.
Interceptions
Cameron Iske, 1; Seth Axsom, 1.