Rountree’s field goal snaps New Kent’s 12-game losing streak

Sawyer Rountree launches the game-winning 31-yard field goal out of the hold of Luke Mechling and over the blocking attempt by York’s Deshon Jones.

Alan Chamberlain photos

Practice makes perfect — or so the old adage goes.

New Kent’s field goal unit, however, has modified that saying somewhat. Just add the words “a little” in front of “practice.”

Friday night, Sawyer Rountree’s 31-yard field goal with 26 seconds left in the game lifted the host Trojans to an 11-8 victory over York’s Falcons. The triumph ended a 12-game losing streak dating back to the next-to-last game of the 2011 football season. A year ago, the Trojans finished 0-10, going winless for the first time in school history.

A post-game confession from the winning placement’s holder, quarterback Luke Mechling, made Rountree’s effort even more remarkable.

“We’ve only done this twice in practice,” Mechling revealed.

And the field goal try almost didn’t happen, thanks to a leg muscle injury Rountree suffered during practice earlier in the week.

“We did special teams [practice] on Monday and he pulled his quad,” said New Kent head coach Dan Rounds. “He didn’t kick at all yesterday, and we thought we’d avoid having to do that tonight.”

But with the final seconds of regulation ticking away and no times out left in a tie game, Rounds ordered the field goal unit on with 30 seconds to play after Mechling spiked the ball to stop the clock on third down at the Falcon 13 yard line.

Mechling kneeled to spot the ball at the 21 yard line. The snap — perfect. The hold — perfect. The kick — perfect, sailing high above a diving attempt to block by York’s Deshon Jones and splitting the uprights.

“I was homed in on the ball, and I wanted to get my head down,” Rountree said afterward, adding that he welcomed the opportunity to boot the game-winner.

“I wanted the chance to win the game and help everybody out,” he said.

Rounds, meanwhile, expressed delight over the addition of the junior Menchville High transfer to his squad.

“What a great surprise he is and a great addition to what we have,” the coach said.

Rounds also celebrated the end of a dismal losing streak.

“This feels great,” he said. “After all the adversity we faced this week and all the injuries, this is a great win for our program. When you have all that stacked against you and things are going wrong, you know someone’s looking out for you.”

And the coach had faith in his players, even after a holding penalty nullified a first half touchdown pass that would have put New Kent in front.

“I felt like since we’d overcome so much this week, we could come back and carry on,” he said.

A week ago against King William, Trojan defensive back Trent Orie intercepted four passes. Tonight, he picked off just one, but it became a game-changer.

Orie’s theft put the hosts in business near midfield. A holding call threatened to thwart the Trojan drive, but Mechling connected with Orie, now at wide-out, on an 8-yard completion and next hooked up with wide receiver Quentin Schaefer for 28 yards and first down at the Falcon 32.

On a third down scramble out of the pocket, Mechling again found Orie, good for 15 yards and a first down at the 15. One play later, running back Mikel Chalmers broke through would-be tacklers on a 12-yard burst into the end zone. T.J. Ward ran for the conversion and an 8-0 Trojan lead with 3:44 left in the third quarter.

York answered with a sustained drive that reached first and goal at New Kent’s three yard line. The Trojan defense, however, dropped Falcon running back Chris Spruill for one-yard losses on both first and second down. Quarterback Garrett Gatz’s third down pass was caught, but beyond the end zone. On fourth down, Gatz’s pass fell incomplete after being deflected at the line of scrimmage.

“We made the plays we needed to make, just like at the end of the game,” Rounds said, pointing to the goal line stand.

But the Falcons forced a Trojan punt out of the end zone, taking over at the New Kent 28 yard line. On the next play, Gatz found receiver Luke Gilbert open down the sideline for the touchdown. Gatz’s conversion run knotted the game with 9:14 to play.

New Kent caught a break on York’s next series. Running back Marcus Wakelyn scampered 62 yards to the Trojan one yard line, but a holding call wiped out the play. Two plays later, defensive lineman Wilson Gregory pounced on a York fumble to end the threat.

New Kent then drove to the Falcon 21, but back-to-back penalties and a quarterback sack placed the Trojans in a fourth down and 30 situation near midfield. With just over one minute left in the game, the hosts elected to punt and play for overtime.

Another break rolled New Kent’s way on Mechling’s punt. Falcon return man Devin Campbell muffed a fair catch on the run inside the 20 yard line. Trojan Davion Barnes fell on the ball at the 19 to set up the decisive field goal effort.

“This is a storybook game to have all the things not go our way last week and now get this,” Rounds said, adding that his team was buoyed by the presence (via Skype) of running back Trey Lee, who is recovering from a career-ending broken leg sustained in the King William game.

“That was an emotional lift for our team that kept us fighting,” the coach said. “I wouldn’t have wanted to win this game any other.

York—————– 0 0 0 8 —— 8
New Kent———- 0 0 8 3 —— 11

3rd Quarter
NK (3:44)- Chalmers 12 yard run (Ward run) 8-0
4th Quarter
York (9:14)- Gilbert 28 yard pass from Gatz (Gatz run) 8-8
NK (:26)- Rountree 31 yard field goal 11-8

Rushing (attempts/yards)
York- Gatz 12/74, Spruill 10/81, Wakelyn 3/14, Jagt 3/8, Barefoot 1/15, West 1/5, Campbell 1/3, Jones 1/1, M. Reynolds 1/0.
NK- Chalmers 20/83, Ward 11/48, Barnes 1/2, Mechling 1/-6.
Passing (completions/attempts/yards)
York- Gatz 5/11/56, 1 TD, 1 Int.; Evans 0/2/0.
NK- Mechling 7/13/84.
Receiving (receptions/yards)
York- Gilbert 2/37, Evans 1/12, Jagt 1/8, Ashley 1/-1.
NK- Orie 3/40, Schaefer 2/28, Chalmers 2/16.
Interceptions
NK- Orie.
Fumble recoveries
York- D. Reynolds.
NK- Gregory, Barnes.
Quarterback sacks
York- M.Reynolds (2), D. Reynolds (2).
NK- Gregory.

New Kent running back Mikel Chalmers looks for yardage after hauling in a first quarter Luke Mechling pass.

Trojan running back T.J. Ward breaks out of a pack of York defenders during a second quarter run.

New Kent defenders Darren Jones (37) and T.J. Ward (6) track down York running back Devin Campbell.

New Kent tackle Wilson Gregory leaps into the arms of head coach Dan Rounds as the Trojans celebrate the end of a 12-game losing streak.