Reversing the curse
Pirates break playoff losing streak with 2OT win at Frenchtown
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FRENCHTOWN — Curses are not easy things to lift. Just ask the Polson Pirates.
The Pirates went into Saturday’s matchup with Frenchtown determined to make up for the playoff disappointments of the past few seasons. It took two overtimes and a heroic goal-line stand, but the Pirates got what they were looking for with a 27-21 victory.
Polson received the ball on offense to begin the second overtime, as they quickly took the lead on a 6-yard scramble to the end zone by quarterback Vince DiGiallonardo. Excitement turned to dismay just seconds later when senior kicker Kyle Bagnell had his extra point kick blocked, leaving the door wide open for the Broncs.
It was the Polson defense that then came up big to secure the win as the Pirates held the Broncs out of the end zone on four straight downs to get the victory.
“Our offense was just able to move the ball in the two overtimes. Vince made a great throw on the first touchdown and made a great decision to run on the second. Then our defense just came through,” Polson head coach Scott Wilson said.
“But I’ll tell you what, I want to make sure to say that is a good football team we faced. Those kids compete hard. They are well-coached and they have nothing to be ashamed of.”
The Pirate combination of DiGiallonardo and receiver Louis Mohr did the majority of the damage to the Broncs on the day as DiGiallonardo ran for 59 yards and passed for another 133. Mohr finished with 100 receiving yards on seven catches.
“That was just a typical playoff game,” DiGiallonardo said. “Those are just two great football teams but we just caught a few more breaks, made a few more plays and came up big when we needed to.”
The win propels the Pirates into this weekend’s quarterfinal playoffs, where Polson (7-2) will travel to face Butte Central (8-1) Saturday a 1 p.m.
“This win is huge,” Wilson said after the game. “We’ve been on the other side of a lot of close games these past two or three years, games that have come down to the wire. In a game like that, I think both teams just gave it all. We made a couple more plays than they did and that’s the bottom line.”
The Pirates looked to be in trouble in the opening minutes of the contest as Frenchtown returned the opening kickoff to midfield before scoring a few minutes later on a 2-yard run by Derrick Dauenhaer.
The Broncs defense was able to contain Polson on the Pirates’ next two possessions but the Frenchtown offense turned the ball over with fumbles after each stop.
The Pirates took advantage of the second turnover, scoring on an 11-yard pass from DiGiallonardo to Kyle Bagnell on a well-executed crossing pattern.
Polson struck again on its next possession as DiGiallonardo hooked up with Mohr for a 46-yard score and the Pirates led 14-7 heading into halftime.
Frenchtown was able to tie the game midway through the third quarter when Andy Domingo found room up the middle and ran the ball to the end zone from 33 yards out.
The Pirates had one last chance to win the game in regulation, but a 42-yard field goal by Bagnell sailed wide right as time expired to send the game into overtime.
It took the Broncs just three plays to enter the end zone in the first overtime as Brad Nordahl bowled his way through the Pirate defense from 1 yard out. The PAT put Frenchtown ahead 21-14.
Polson wasted no time finding the end zone either, scoring on their second play of the overtime on a 7-yard pass from DiGiallonardo to Mohr.
“We had to score. We needed to score. So we got that done,” DiGiallonardo said. “I saw one-on-one coverage with Louis. Coach Wilson called it and there was no safety over the top. He (Mohr) made a great play holding on to that.”
After the score, Wilson called a timeout to contemplate going for a 2-point conversion to possibly end the game.
“That first overtime series on offense for them, they drove right through us,” Wilson said. “So we scored and I had to think about it. I took the timeout, asked my coaches and my kids and some wanted to (go for 2) and some didn’t. In the end, we just kicked and hoped we’d get another chance.”
The Pirates got the ball first in the second overtime, this time scoring on a 6-yard scramble by DiGiallonardo.
“Nothing was stopping me from that end zone,” DiGiallonardo said. “That was our season. That was what we have worked for all this time.”
Things looked bleak for the Pirates after the PAT was blocked, but the Polson sideline erupted when the Broncs’ fourth-down pass fell harmlessly to the ground in the back of the end zone to end the game.
According to DiGiallonardo, the win really showed what this year’s Polson team is all about.
“This team has a lot of character. It has the most character of any team I have played on,” he said.
The Pirates will need to show more of that same character Saturday as they travel to face the fourth-ranked Maroons.
Summary
Polson 27, Frenchtown 21 (2OT)
Polson 14 00076–27
F.Town 7 07070–21
F - Derrick Dauenhauer 2 run (Ben Metz kick)
P - Kyle Bagnell 11 pass from Vince DiGiallonardo (Bagnell kick)
P - Louis Mohr 46 pass from DiGiallonardo (Bagnell kick)
F - Andy Domingo 33 run (Metz kick)
F - Brad Nordahl 1 run (Metz kick)
P - Mohr 7 pass from DiGiallonardo (Bagnell kick)
P - DiGiallonardo 6 run (kick failed)
