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Show Penalty kills title hopes I VT ' I . - v..c . XV- I - ' - : l , X 4;-;; '- - By JACK HILL Pleasant Grove fell one penalty flag shot of an overtime game Friday and lost to Ben Lomond 21-19. 21-19. The semi-final game played at Rice Stadium in Salt Lake City, saw the Vikes pull to within two points with 1:30 to play on a Mark Clements' one-yard run. Going for two points and a tie, quarterback Eric Thomas sent Jesse Walker in motion right, took the snap and sprinted right. Good blocking at the point of attack allowed Thomas to read the defense and when Walker was double covered, Thomas fired a strike to Tracy Flinders. Flinders cradled the ball and P.G. supporters sup-porters started to celebrate the apparent tie. On the field, however, 35 yards from the play, a yellow flag signalled trouble for the Vikes. It was a holding call, made by the headlinesman, and it cancelled the score and moved PG back to the 18. The try from that distance was no good as the pass sailed incomplete. An onside kick bounced just across the 50 and for a split second the ball was visible on the ground. As both teams converged, it was evident from the reaction of the Ben Lomond players that they had the ball. Ben Lemond, a team with a great running game, controlled the ball until only :03 remained. When the Vikes took over after a fourth down and with no time outs left, they were unable to get the last desperation play off before the clock ran out. Taking the opening kickoff, the " V;,:p5 had driven to the 20 where Ben Lomond intercepted. But on the runback, the interceptor fumbled and Flinders recovered. With 5:32 to play in the first period, Heath Johnston scored from a yard out and Don Field kicked the PAT for a 7-0 PG lead. After forcing Ben Lomond to punt, PG took over on their own 35. Three plays later the Vikes fumbled and Ben Lomond put their ground game to work. Quarterback Shawn Paulou triggered the attack, with Scott Douglas and Brian Mackenzie doing the bulk ofthe work, driving 48 yards to score. The extra point kick by Scott Littlefield tied the game at 7 each. PG started a good drive following a Clements recovery of a Ben Lomond fumble. Thomas passed 15 yards to Robert Jolley, then kept the ball for 12 more yards. On fourth and three, PG came up short at the 20. The Scots, who only threw the ball four times during the game, then completed their only pass, an interception in-terception that Flinders grabbed just before it hit the artificial turf. Thomas passed 25 yards to Flinders who got out of bounds on the 14 with : 19 seconds to play. Flinders then caught a 12-yard pass to the 2-yard line. , . With :06 seconds oathexlockr PG lined up for a field goal but holder Billy Adamson pitched the ball to Flinders who passed to Jesse Walker for a touchdown. For the second straight week, PG had scored with :01 second to play in the half. The point after hit the upright and was no good, leaving the score at 13-7 for the halftime break. If one play, other than the penalty on the final extra point try, turned the game for Ben Lomond, it was the fumbled punt minutes into the third period. PG's defense, led by Brad Kitchen, Kit-chen, Stan Harvey, Mike Sumner and linebackers Jerry Wood and Don Parker, had stopped the Scots after three second half plays. The fourth down punt was low and knuckleballed down the field where it was mishandled. Ed Green, Ben Lomond's 215 pound fullbacklinebacker fell on the ball at the PG 28-yard line. With 5:48 to play in the third period, Green pounded into the end zone from a yard out to tie the score. Littlefield's kick was good and the Scots were in the lead to stay. Ben Lomond intercepted on the first play following the kickoff, but the Scots later were forced to punt. However, the ball was downed on . PG's two-.yardline . Johnston ran for 14 yards on a quick trap and the Vikes continued out to the 31 where they were forced to punt. Mosher was roughed to give the Vikes a first down, but Ben Lomond held. Paul Paulou again showed his running skills by breaking a tackle and gaining 8 yards. Green covered the final yard with 5:20 to play, giving Ben Lomond a 20-13 lead and Littlefield's kick made it 21-13. Coach Doug Bluth started the final drive with a quick trap and Johnston broke open for 16 yards. When the Vikes reached the 27, Thomas passed across the middle to Jolley where pass interference gave PG a first down on the 9 yard line. Clements capped the drive on a fourth down play from the one to set up the two point try to go into overtime. Thomas was 13 of 23 for 183 yards and the Vikes rushed for 131 yards. Ben Lomond rushed for 196 yards with zero yards passing. Eric Thomas (7) hands off to Mark Clements (10) to fall in for a touchdown just seconds before halftime. |