Council Football Takes 3rd at State

A potential state semifinal between Council and Carey was one that raised eyebrows when the brackets came out. Prognosticators felt that there were three teams that could truly win state - Council, Carey, and Tri Valley. So, as the #1 seed, it was expected that if those teams won their way forward, Council would eventually face the winner of Tri Valley and Carey. However, that wasn’t the case. A controversy ensued when it was learned that the IHSAA had pulled the brackets before all the work had been completed by Maxpreps, whose rankings are used to determined seedings. Appeals were made by multiple schools. They were denied. When the brackets were pulled, Carey was #5. When Maxpreps completed their work a few hours later, they were #3. IHSAA made no changes to the bracket. Thus, Carey was left as the #5 seed (Council side of the bracket) rather than the #3 seed (Tri Valley side).

By the time the semifinals arrived, it was indeed #1 Council vs. defending state champion Carey. Each team resembled the other - lots of speed, a run-first offense, and tenacious, stingy defense.

To further complicate things for Council, Star senior quarterback Owen Hatfield, the reigning league MVP, was attempting to return just three weeks after a shoulder injury. As such, coaches limited him to offense only. He would not be playing middle linebacker, where he had helped anchor the Division’s top defense. This would make the Lumberjack’s margin for error that much smaller.

Carey struck first on a touchdown pass where it appeared to everyone that our great DB Bryson Evans had made an interception. However, at the last second, the ball was wrestled away by the receiver. Instead of Council getting a turnover, Carey suddenly had a 6-0 lead.

Council hit back, taking the lead on Owen Hatfield’s 16-yard slashing quarterback keeper up the middle, followed by a successful 2-point conversion pass to Wyatt Tharp.

Another momentum swing soon followed, as Carey star running back Stockton Sears returned it 79 yards for a TD, putting Carey up 12-8.

After turning it over on downs, Council got the ball back when a Remington Crowell QB hit helped Carson Roberts pick off the Carey pass. Council marched downfield and Hatfield hit his favorite target, Garrison Zielinski, for an 11-yard leaping grab in the end zone. Council led 14-12 at halftime.

The 3rd quarter started with exchanging turnovers. Council fumbled the kickoff return but Garrison Zielinski swung it back Council’s way three plays later with another interception followed by a 33-yard return. Nine plays later after a steady diet of Hatfield and Jim Tucker runs, Hatfield took it for six by following Crowell’s escort on the left side. Council now led 20-12 and was looking to take the game over.

The next couple of series led to the Lumberjacks troubles. Carey scored on a pass where it appeared an illegal man downfield penalty was missed. Then, they recovered a perfectly executed onside kick. After a 47-yard drive, and Council‘s reliable offense being kept off the field, Carey was suddenly up 26-20.

Council answered yet again, with Tucker and Hatfield sharing the rushing workload, and Hatfield’s 24-yard sprint to the corner of the end zone tied it at 26-26.

The last half of the 4th quarter was wild. Council stopped Carey. Then, with a minute left, Council faced 4th and 4 from their own 30 with just over a minute left. A risky call to go for it failed and Carey now had it at Council’s 31.

A first-play strike to the end zone left Council stunned. Carey suddenly led 32-26 with just under a minute left.

Still, the players and fans were confident. With Council’s potent abilities in the passing game, coming back and forcing OT or even winning seemed very possible.

However, disaster struck on the kickoff when Carey made a tremendous play to strip the ball and gain possession. Just like that, Council’s offense wasn’t trotting onto the field to control their own destiny. In that blink of an eye, the outcome had been coldly and almost unbelievably determined. It was a moment that had almost everyone struggling to even understand the finality of the moment.

It was an especially  tough loss. Council outgained Carey 280 yards to 225. They also picked off three passes. They seemed superior on both offense and defense. But their Achilles heel had been special teams, where they gave up a kick return TD, lost an onside kick, and had two fumbles on returns.

This year’s Lumberjacks were truly an incredible team. They were #1 for a reason and had every goal of hanging a state championship banner. Fate decided that wouldn’t be the case, but a 3rd place State trophy and a 4th consecutive District Championship still helps cement their legacy as one of the best teams to wear the red and white in many years. Thank you, boys, for a truly thrilling season.

Rushing: Owen Hatfield 19 for 112 yards, 3 TD; Jim Tucker 20 for 106; Brody Davis 1 for 1; Bryson Evans 2 for -1.

Passing: Owen Hatfield 5/9 for 62 yards, 1 TD

Receiving: Jim Tucker 2 for 42 yards; Garrison Zielinski 1 for 11, 1 TD; Bryson Evans 1 for 6; Wyatt Tharp 1 for 3.

Tackles: Bryson Evans 6 solo, 3 asst; Ayden Heinemeyer 3 solo, 7 asst; Remington Crowell 1 solo, 9 asst; Wyatt Tharp 2 solo, 5 asst; Tucker Armichardy 2 solo, 3 asst; Wyatt Hatfield 2 solo, 2 asst; Carson Roberts 1 solo, 4 asst; Jim Tucker 2 solo; Garrison Zielinski 1 solo, 2 asst; Brody Davis 1 solo, 2 asst; James Yoakum 1 solo, 1 asst.

Tackles for Loss: Remington Crowell .5; Wyatt Hatfield .5

Sacks: Remington Crowell 2

QB Hits: Remington Crowell 2

QB Pressures: Wyatt Hatfield 1

Interceptions: Garrison Zielinski 1 (33-yd ret); Bryson Evans 1; Carson Roberts 1

Passes Defended: Bryson Evans 1