On Thursday, October 16th, the Seminole Chieftains travelled to Mcloud to take on the Redskins with Head Coach Mike Snyder back on the sidelines after serving a one-game suspension. An offensive shootout turned into a thriller, as Snyder’s Chieftains prevailed in overtime by a score of 48-42. With the win, Seminole improves to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in district play.

The visitors started out hot in Snyder’s return when defensive back Chaz Rea, making his first career start, intercepted the Mcloud quarterback on the game’s first possession. Seminole quarterback Donavin Garfield would find wide receiver Mason Bennett just one play later for a 51-yard touchdown catch and run. A Redskin punt later and the Chieftain offense struck again, this time on an 18-yard reception by WR Jay Ladd just before the end of quarter number one, 14-0 Seminole.

The second quarter was when the offensive fireworks began for both squads. Mcloud cut the Chieftain lead in half two minutes into the period, just for the Mean Green to respond with WR Jay Ladd’s second touchdown catch less than two minutes later. Another Redskin rushing touchdown made the score 20-14 for one play before WR Mason Bennett took a jet sweep 80 yards to the house. However, Mcloud would score on their third straight possession, bringing the score to 28-21 in favor of the visitors at the intermission.

Seminole received the second-half kickoff and got right back to work, extending its lead with WR Mason Bennett’s third touchdown of the game. However, Mcloud picked up right where they left off as well, striking on a 12-yard rush by the Redskin QB four minutes later, 36-27 Chieftains.

Another Mean Green drive and another touchdown, when WR Mason Bennett scored his 4th of the game to extend the visitors’ lead. Make that six drives and six touchdowns for the visitors. Yet again, the Redskins would respond, returning the kickoff to cut the deficit back down to a single possession going into the final quarter.

Seminole would make their first mistake of the ball game when QB Donavin Garfield threw an interception to start the fourth. The Redskins would capitalize, driving the length of the field to tie the score at 42 with 8:53 remaining. After a Chieftain three-and-out, Mcloud regained possession at the 50-yard line with a chance to upset the visitors.

Using the rest of the game clock, the Redskins lined up to kick a game-winning field goal from 25 yards out with four seconds left. A botched snap by the Mcloud kicker saved the Chieftains and sent the game into overtime tied at 42-42.

After DB Mason Bennett batted down the Redskins fourth down attempt on the first possession of overtime, QB Donavin Garfield ran in the game-winner from 2 yards out to lift the Seminole over Mcloud by a score of 48-42.

Here is what Head Coach Mike Snyder had to say after escaping the Redskins. “We never stopped them (Mcloud). We made them punt one time, and we knew they were pretty good on offense. We had lost Reed Bowers, and you know, we were just hurting at linebacker play; we tried everybody in the world. You know that’s a good win, but at the same time you wish you had played better on the defensive side.”

The offensive shootout of the game saw the Chieftain offense put up 469 total yards, averaged 11 yards per play, and score on seven of their 10 possessions. QB Donavin Garfield finished 15-25 for 323 yards and five touchdowns through the air. His top two receivers were WR Mason Bennett (8 receptions for 236 yards and 3 touchdowns) and WR Jay Ladd (5 receptions for 66 yards and 2 touchdowns). Bennett led the Chieftains on the ground with 5 carries for 96 yards and another touchdown.

The 11 penalties for 105 yards committed by Seminole helped Mcloud stay in the game, especially with the Redskins only gaining 245 total yards and averaging just 3.8 yards per play.

Seminole is now 5-2 overall and tied for 3rd in the district standings. Next up for the Chieftains is another road battle, this time against the 7-0 Sulphur Bulldogs on Friday, October 24th. Game time is set for 7:00PM.