AURORA — Three years ago, Collin Root missed a 55-yard field goal at Legacy Stadium and Ralston Valley was knocked out of the playoffs by Grandview.
Two years ago, the Mustangs also had their season end at Legacy Stadium, that time to Cherokee Trail in another close game.
So Root wasn’t surprised when it came down to a miracle play Friday night in the Class 5A second round against Eaglecrest and, yes, again at Legacy Stadium.
With rain falling slightly as well as a small breeze that came up, Root bombed a 56-yard field goal that extended the Mustangs’ season. They somehow edged Eaglecrest 44-43.
Ralston Valley improved to 11-0 and Root, an emotional teenager who rarely leaves the field when the game’s in the balance, couldn’t have been happier.
“You know, it’s funny,” he said while referring back to the 2011 season. “I wasn’t going to let it end that way again. I mean, all during warm-ups I was pushing it left.”
There was a bit of controversy at the end — the Mustangs spiked the ball with three seconds left. Ralston Valley had no timeouts remaining, but the referees conferred to confirm that fact.
“I thought I had one, so I asked them to check,” Mustangs coach Matt Loyd said.
They checked, they didn’t, but the delay gave Ralston Valley time to set up the kick.
Eaglecrest, which ended 5-6, traded punches all game behind superlative quarterback Elijah Ross, who was firmly in command by rushing for four touchdowns, passing for another and handing off for still another. Plus, Raptors kicker Garrett Dickey made an 18-yard field goal to put Eaglecrest up 43-41 inside the final minute.
But Ralston Valley, behind Root, the smooth Andrew Wingard (two touchdowns), Kyle Rush and Noah Wells responded.
“These kids, they did a great job,” Loyd said.
(1) Ralston Valley (11-0): 20 14 0 10 — 44
(6) Eaglecrest (5-6): 21 13 6 3 — 43
E — Washington 3 run (Dickey kick). RV — Wingard 46 run (Root kick). RV — Flabo 13 run (Root kick), E — Ross 19 run (Dickey kick). RV — Wingard 51 run (kick blocked). E — Ross 51 run (Dickey kick). RV — Root 29 pass from Heffley (Wingard run). E — Karmayzn 72 pass from Ross (kick blocked). RV — Wells 19 run (pass failed). E — Ross 15 run (Dickey kick). E — Ross 3 run (kick blocked). RV — Rush 15 run (Root kick). E — FG Dickey 18. RV — FG Root 56.
