Late call gives Ephrata win over Quincy

QUINCY - It may have been a nonleague contest between Ephrata and Quincy to open the 2012 high school football season Friday night. But it had all the makings of a fierce battle between two long-time rivals as the Tigers pulled out a 22-21 come from behind win in the waning moments on the Jacks home turf.

But the game was not without controversy as referees couldn't agree initially on an apparent 2-point conversion by Ephrata's Dalton Balentine that gave the Tigers a one-point lead with 90 seconds left on the game clock in Battle of the Basin at Jaycee Stadium.

"The line judge said it was no good and so did the umpire," Quincy coach Stephen Wallace said. "Our players started running off field when the back judge came rushing in and said the 2-point conversion was good."

The Quincy home crowd erupted in jubilation after what appeared to be a stop by the Jacks defense.

But after the referees huddled together to talk things over, and the decision to overturn the call was announced, the Jacks faithful fell silent in disbelief.

The fans, players and coaches on the Ephrata sideline however, were beside themselves when the call was reversed.

"There were 22 players bunched up within 10 feet of each other, so it was difficult to see if the conversion was good or not," Tigers coach Jay Mills said.

"The officials never gave either team an explanation as to their decision. And after reviewing the game film we still couldn't tell if he made it our not ... I am just glad it (the decision) went in our favor."

Quincy got on the scoreboard first on a 6-yard TD run by quarterback Jacob Durfee. The PAT by Armando Tafoya made it 7-0 in favor of the Jacks. A 50-yard Andy Vargas interception return and successful extra point attempt put Quincy up 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.

The Jacks looked to be on their way to a three touchdown lead after recovering the ball on a squibb kick following their second score, but turned the ball over on the Tigers side of the field.

Ephrata took advantage of the miscue and converted it to six points. The PAT failed, but the Tigers had closed the gap to eight points. Quincy failed to score in the second quarter, but took a 14-6 lead into the locker room at the half.

The Jacks Durfee put the only points on the board for either team in the third quarter, scoring on a with a 5-yard run with 3 minutes, 39 seconds left on the clock.

The PAT was good and Quincy led 21-6 heading into the final 12 minutes of the game.

Ephrata answered back with two TDs in fourth quarter; a Tyson Martin 12-yard run with five minutes left, and a 20-yard dash by Chance Flanigan with 79 tics on the game clock, and converted two 2-point attempts to go up 22-21.

Quincy had a chance to put the game out of reach prior to the controversial call in the fourth quarter, but turned the ball over near the Tigers red zone.

"We were in a fourth and one situation at their 25-yardline and opted not to kick a field goal," Wallace said. "We were averaging five yards a pop on the ground so we went for it. Unfortunately, we fumbled the snap and they recovered the ball."

Despite the heartbreaking loss, Wallace said the team remains upbeat and is looking forward to getting back on the gridiron next week.

"The same kind of thing happened to us last season," he said. "We'll consider this a wake up call. The guys now know they need to play all four quarters and can't have a let down."

Quincy will have to be clicking on all cylinders Friday as they head to Royal City to take on the Knights.

As for the Tigers, coach Mills said was extremely satisfied with effort his team turned in against the Jacks.

'It was an exciting game that came down to the wire," he said. "I am proud of the kids determination from a mental standpoint. They believed in themselves, hung in there and found a way to win."

Ephrata hits the road Friday as the team travels to Ellensburg to face the Bulldogs in the Tigers league opener.