Silverdale Baptist Academy coach Mike Connor is getting used to seeing his football team come up with big stops on 2-point conversions late in the fourth quarter.
A week after standout senior Luke Burger made the tackle to seal a 14-13 home win over TSSAA Class 1A’s top-ranked South Pittsburg, denying the Pirates as their run failed, a collection of Silverdale defenders halted Knoxville Webb’s 2-point attempt with 1:38 to play Friday night, and Division II-AA’s fifth-ranked Seahawks held on for a 27-26 road win in their East Region opener.
After the Spartans scored their final touchdown to pull within a point, Silverdale’s Luke Bowman, Cole Carpenter, Jackson Deitch and Jacob Shelton rallied to the ball carrier to provide the big hit on the conversion try. Carpenter recovered the home team’s ensuing onside kick, and the Seahawks proceeded to run out the clock.
“Finishing games requires players who are physically prepared,” Connor said. “It also requires a mentality that refuses to surrender when fatigue and adversity arrive. At that point, both preparation and character are revealed. The team that remains disciplined, communicates and executes fundamentals when everyone is tired often gives itself the best opportunity to win.”
The Seahawks — who have back-to-back wins since dropping their season opener at Tyner, where the Rams rallied in the fourth quarter — certainly handled adversity as third-year starting quarterback Connor Jenne exited after sustaining a lower-body injury on the first play from scrimmage.