Unbeaten MICDS RalliesTo Edge Ladue, 56-55

While turning into a movie critic from a high school football coach, both MICDS' Josh Smith or Ladue's Mike Tarpey will find reviewing the opening round of the Class 4 District 6 game between the two Rams squads on Saturday at MICDS will be like watching a horror flick.

After all, MICDS rallied from a 13-point deficit in final 80 seconds to edge Ladue, 56-55. Sure, the final moments of regulation were sure worthy of Academy Award finishes. And MICDS senior wide receiver Foster Bundy and senior quarterback Thomas Militello as well as Ladue junior runningback Deavin Edwards gave Best Actor nominations.

MICDS senior runningback/linebacker Michael Scherer, MICDS senior Clark Rogers and MICDS kicker Otie George, a pair of special teams players, Ladue senior cornerback Hamm Hooper, Ladue senior quarterback Brandon Carr and the offensive lines of both Rams squads earned Best Supporting Actor nominations.

MICDS' storyline was one of perseverance, overcoming great odds to remain unbeaten. Ladue's storyline was one of a team wanting to build a winning tradition like MICDS, even though the talent is there. MICDS improved to 8-0 while Ladue dropped to 5-3. "A win will make watching the film easier," Smith said. "We have a lot of things that need to be corrected. Fifthy-five points is a lot of points."
 
So is surrendering 56 points in a game that had six lead changes and three ties. And placekicker Eric Stuber's missed extra point wide right on Ladue's final touchdown proved to be huge, even though Ladue held a 55-42 lead with two minutes, 47 seconds left in regulation. "At the time you didn't think it mattered," Tarpey said. "When you're leading by 13 points, you should win the game. It's very disappointing. You feel like you should win a football game when you're up by 13 points with that much time left."

What transpired in the final moments is that of Hollywood stuff. First, Edwards dashed 91 yards for a touchdown, his sixth of the game, to extend Ladue's lead to 55-42 with 2:47 remaining in regulation. But MICDS refused to quit. Militello and Bundy collaborated for a pair of touchdown passes on post routes - 38 and 18 yards - to keep MICDS the frontrunner to win the four-team district.

After Bundy's 38-yard touchdown catch, Bundy, who also kicks extra points, was forced to leave the game with a cramp. Thus, senior Jack Howell converted his first point after of the season to cut the deficit to 55-49. Perhaps the biggest play of the game was of non-scoring variety. George's ensuing onside kick bounced high down the right sidelines into the arms of Rogers at the Ladue 39-yard line. Five plays later Bundy snared his fourth touchdown reception of the game with :20.4 seconds remaining in regulation.

Bundy converted the game-winning extra point, then secured the win with an interception from his cornerback position. Bundy caught five passes for 171 yards and four touchdowns of 79, 30, 38 and 18 yards. Militello, completed 28 of 45 passes for 440 yards and six touchdowns and one interception.

"All year we faced adversity," Militello said. "We've been here before. We're a strong team and have good chemistry. We just had to dig deep and come through. I didn't think about losing. We haven't lost all season. I don't want to start losing now in districts."

Scherer totaled 189 yards of offense and scored two touchdowns. He caught seven passes for 71 yards and one touchdown of five yards. He rushed for 110 yards on 17 attempts and one touchdown of five yards. Militello and Howell collaborated for a 37-yard touchdown. Junior runningback Denzell Conway rushed for a 11-yard touchdown for MICDS.

MICDS; balanced offensive attack benefited from the play of senior center Christopher Hiemenz, senior right tackle Steven Akre, junior right guard Jack Kurzu, senior left tackle Peter Schlafly and junior left guard Devin Chabot. "With our team, it's going to come down to the way we play," Bundy said. "All we kept saying was 'Don't let down. Don't let down.' Ready or not, we're coming with everything we've got. We fought back and kept fighting. We just put it together."

Said Smith: "I know we've been in games like that before. We have kids who play hard for each other. We just take a shot and see what happens. Stranger things have happened. If you keep plugging away, you give yourself a chance to win."

Ladue produced enough gaudy numbers to win. Edwards provided a months worth of work in one game. He gained 368 yards on 22 rushes and six touchdowns of one, 12, 31, 73, 48 and 91 yards. Michael Horton-Loftin produced a 15-yard touchdown run. Carr scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak.

Ladue totaled 514 yards of offense (423 rushing, 91 passing) behind the blocking of sophomore center Chris Boudoures, sophomore left tackle Brent Morrow, senior left guard Habtamu Workineh, senior right tackle Daniel Koslovsky and sophomore right guard Nick Hulsey.

Defensively, Hooper recorded two fumble recoveries and one interception. 'When they needed to make plays, they made the plays," Tarpey said of MICDS. "Honestly, we made plays. I can't fault my kids. To their credit, their kids came out on top.  I still think we're a very good football team and we lost to three quality programs. We want to put ourselves into a position to be that program."

If everything plays out, Ladue and MICDS could meet again in the second round of state play at 7 p.m. on Nov. 7. MICDS plays at University City at 2 p.m. on Oct. 22 while Ladue faces Clayton at 7 p.m. on Oct. 21 at Gay Field in the second week of districts. In Missouri, the top two squads from each district advance to the state tournament. 

"Maybe coming out on the short end will help us," Tarpey said. "Maybe it will motivate us for the next two weeks."