Posey and Skopic instant hero’s in Mount Union’s 15-14 buzzer beater win over Mo Valley

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: October 20, 2018

By Kenny Varner

MOUNT UNION – As the Mount Union offense lined up for the last play of the ball game, the Trojans trailed 14-12 in its game against MoShannon Valley, both teams knew that with one swing of Trojans’ kicker Trevor Skopic’s leg would determine the outcome of the game and each team’s fortunes will be changed, one for the good and one not.

As the ball was hiked and placed in line, Skepic’s kick was straight on from 28-yards out, giving the Trojans a heart-stopping 15-14 victory to the delight of the home crowd.

“I am very happy for these kids! I said all year that our kids never give up. We sometimes continue to make mistakes and put us in a situation that we have to do that,” Mount Union coach Jamie Brumbaugh said. “But they don’t give up and I am happy for them.”

The kick capped off what was to be an exciting final stanza where both teams would take a lead only to have it taken away.

But with the kick ending the game at the buzzer, it would be the Trojans who got their hands raised on this night.

After trailing by six coming into the second half, Mount Union put the ball in their quarterback Quinton Pusey’s hands and he did not disappoint as he finished with 101 yards through the air and 227 on the ground.

The Black Knights steadily handed it to their Boro guy for most of the night as well in running back Jon Dale. Dale was the iron man for his team rushing 26 times for 141 yards and he even caught a clutch pass late in the game for 25.

“This was a great, great high school game,” MoShannon Valley coach Michael Keith said. “We told them afterward that they can’t ease up. They can’t be lax and let them move the ball. I told them that I love the fight in them. They’ve done that all year long. We might be 2-8 but we have fought all year long.”

In the first half, the Black Knights defense was able to keep the Trojans’ offense at bay while they were able to put one in in the second quarter.

Starting on their own 43, Mo Valley March down the field, mostly on the legs of Dale going on a 9-play drive culminating in a Dale 1-yard touchdown run.

With a Trojans penalty on the PAT, the Black Knights decided to go for two and we’re successful as quarterback Ben Murowski called his own number and followed his blockers in the end zone, making it 8-0 with 9:33 left until the intermission.

With the first half coming to a close, the Mount Union defense deterred the Black Knight from cashing one in late as the buzzer sounded with Mo Valley deep in Trojan Territory.

Mount Union regrouped at halftime and went right to work in their first possession of the second half.

Posey and company started at their own 48 but quickly marched downfield as Posey would fake the pass and turn straight up the field picking up chunks of yardage and worked his way down to the 17 in just four plays. After a long run, putting Mount Union at the Black Knight 17, Posey turned on the jets and scored from 17-yards out. However, the 2-point conversion failed, making it an 8-6 ball game with 8:53 left in the third.

From there both defenses bent but didn’t break as the fourth quarter began with Mount Union still be trailing by two.

That wouldn’t take long to change as the offensive line for the home team opened up hole after hole and seam after seam for their quarterback.

And at exactly 8:53 again, it would be teammate Klayton Willoughby that would surprise the Black Knights defense and score from the 13.

Like after their first touchdown, the Trojans 2-point conversion failed but Mount Union had regained the lead at 12-8.

As the clock started to run down, it looked as Mount Union was going to score late to put the game away, moving down to the five of Mo Valley.

Fortunes quickly changed on a holding call on what looked like a winning touchdown.

With the ball put back at the 15, the Trojans drive stalled and gave the Black Knights a chance to take the lead once again.

For most of the night, the Black Knights’ passing game was inconsistent but not on their final drive.

With less than 3 minutes left, MoShannon Valley worked the ball downfield through the air.

Making clutch catches in the drive was Dale and Joseph Bacher. Bacher has two clutch catches of 32 and 18 in the drive.

As the clock struck 1:21, Dale picked up his second touchdown of the night, busting his way through the line for a 4-yard TD run.

Mount Union held the Black Knights from connecting on the 2-point conversion, keeping them within striking distance of 14-12.

Posey and his line came out for the last series of downs with only 51 ticks on the clock.

He seemed to have ice water in his veins as he found teammates Ethan Carbaugh, and Vincent Lear twice, getting his team quickly downfield to the 11 of the Black Knights.

With seven seconds, Posey stepped back to pass and saw no open team members so he alertly threw it out of the end zone, setting the script for Skepic to be the hero and hit the game-winner. The kicker did not disappoint as you could have heard a pin drop before the ball was kicked. After the buzzer sounded and the ball went through the uprights, the Trojans celebrated their victory while the Black Knights walked off knowing that they tried their best and almost came out with the “W”.