Failed conversions and missed opportunities doomed Grain Valley in its quest to advance in the state playoffs.
The Eagles, who converted just one of four fourth-down chances and missed on an extra-point kick and a two-point conversion, were edged 14-12 by host Harrisonville Monday in a Class 4 sectional contest.
Leaving points on the field proved costly to Grain Valley as the Eagles failed to convert a fourth-and-one from the Harrisonville 1-yard line in the first quarter, missed an extra point in the third and failed to convert a two-point conversion in the fourth that would have tied the game at 14-14 with 3:29 left.
“I feel disappointed that we didn’t win the ballgame, but I don’t think I have ever felt prouder of a group of young men than I do these guys,” Grain Valley coach Forrest Rovello said. “They came in here against a very good football team that handled them (37-12 on Oct. 30) and they weren’t intimidated. They went out and played their hearts out and darn near won the ballgame.”
Trailing 14-6 after a 15-yard touchdown run by Harrisonville quarterback Sam Cooper, Grain Valley refused to quit. Linebacker Sam Ringwood stamped out a Harrisonville drive with an interception that he returned 22 yards to the Wildcats’ 4-yard line. One play later, fullback Trace Goade scored from 4 yards out to make it 14-12.
But quarterback Austin Gouldsmith’s two-point conversion run to tie it was snuffed at the Wildcat 1-yard line.
“I thought we had the momentum coming back,” Ringwood said. “We had the momentum the whole game, but little things messed us up. Things didn’t go our way and that happens, but we could have done it. I’m proud of the game we played. I think we played a good game.”
The game was scoreless until a Grain Valley mistake helped Harrisonville take a 7-0 lead. With just 1:26 left in the half, a snap sailed over punter Tyler Fuhrman’s head. He recovered at the 16-yard line, but his knee touched the ground, giving the Wildcats the ball there. That set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Cooper.
“Snapping the ball over the punter’s head – we hadn’t done that all year,” Rovello said. “That was the first time it ever happened and it cost us a touchdown.”
The Eagles answered in the third quarter after defensive end Dallas Welch’s sack on Cooper forced a fumble that Welch recovered at the Wildcats’ 31-yard line. Ten plays later, Goade plunged through the Harrisonville defensive line for a 1-yard touchdown run. The Eagles failed to get off the extra-point attempt when Gouldsmith fumbled the snap and was tackled near the 10-yard line.
Harrisonville went up by eight early in the fourth when Cooper escaped at least six would-be Grain Valley tacklers and scampered 15 yards for the touchdown. A successful extra point by Kyle Humphrey made it 14-6.
Welch said although Monday was the end of the rope for Grain Valley (9-3), he will never forget his teammates.
“This team has played together closer than any team I have ever been on,” Welch said. “I love these guys. This team will stay with me until the day I die.”
Rovello said the Eagles’ miscues had nothing to do with effort or execution but were all just part of the game.
“That’s football,” Rovello said. “Sometimes that’s the way it goes.”
CLASS 4 SECTIONAL BOX SCORE
HARRISONVILLE 14, GRAIN VALLEY 12
Grain Valley Harrisonville
16 First downs 12
56-159 Attempts-Yards Rushing 36-195
11 Yards Passing 0
9 Passes Attempted 4
1 Passes Completed 0
0 Passes Intercepted 2
2-40 Punts-Average 2-42
0-0 Fumbles-Lost 2-1
4-30 Penalties-Yards 4-45
GRAIN VALLEY 0 0 6 6 — 12
HARRISONVILLE 0 7 0 7 — 14
Scoring
Second quarter
H — Sam Cooper 1 run (Kyle Humphrey kick ), 0:35.
Third quarter
GV — Trace Goade 1 run (kick failed), 1:49.
Fourth quarter
H — Cooper 15 run (Humphrey kick), 4:37.
GV — Goade 4 run (run failed), 3:29.
