Saturday, Sep. 06, 2008

West slips past Althoff on field goal with 1:06 left in game

Playing in his first varsity game, Maroons kicker wins it

BELLEVILLE -- His name wasn't even in the program Friday night, but Belleville West kicker Kent Kobernus had the full attention of more than 3,000 fans at Lindenwood Stadium before it was all over.

A soccer goalkeeper playing in his first varsity football game, Kobernus blasted a 45-yard field goal with 1:06 remaining to give Belleville West a 26-23 victory over city rival Althoff.

"I knew I had the distance, I just didn't know about the accuracy," said Kobernus, whose 24-yard field goal earlier in the game wobbled badly and barely made it over the goalpost.

Facing a much longer distance, the junior made it with plenty of room to spare.

"I just kicked it as hard as I could," he said. "I knew if I hit it right, it would go right through."

The Maroons were certainly glad to have him along for the ride.

"It was pretty magical, wasn't it?" said West coach Ric Johns, whose 2-0 team collected only its third win over Althoff since 1988 and first since 2001. "He's got quite a foot. We courted him for a while, all summer. It was just a matter of getting him over.

"It was a great night for Belleville West football."

West fullback Sean Lewis finished with 128 yards.

The Maroons were in control with a 10-0 lead early in the second half. But quarterback Jodeci Mack's fumble was recovered in the end zone by Althoff linebacker Ed Fink for a touchdown and it sparked a Crusaders' rally.

Mack's 11-yard run late in the third quarter for his second TD of the night gave West a 16-7 advantage.

Shut down on offense most of the night by an aggressive Maroons' defense, Althoff needed help from West turnovers.

A high snap on a punt caused West punter Chris Konya to kick the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety with 9:47 remaining, bringing Althoff within 16-9.

Richard Burrell scored on a 5-yard run with 8:08 to play and Richard Kapp's extra point tied it 16-16.

A fumble by West return man Jarvis Patterson was recovered by Althoff's Eric O'Saben, setting up another score.

Brady Nowak tossed a 9-yard TD pass to Sam Wahlig and Kapp's extra point put Althoff on top for the first time all night with 5:21 to play.

Althoff had a chance to close things out with the Maroons showing punt on fourth-and-9 at their own 36. But without their regular punter on the field, it was an obvious fake and Patterson took the deep snap and ran far enough to pick up a first down.

"The coaches talked me into that. I was ready to spread punt and use a timeout," Johns said.

"I knew exactly what (Patterson) was about to do, we saw it in the Highland game," Althoff coach Ken Turner said. "I think everybody knew what they were going to do. We fight back hard and then on fourth-and-9 we know exactly what they're about to do -- and we let the kid get a first down."

On the next play, Mack hooked up with wide-open Jason McGovern for a 55-yard touchdown pass. Konya's extra-point tied it and things seemed headed for overtime before an interception by Travis Manning gave the Maroons a chance to win it from the Althoff 19.

Three consecutive running plays lost yardage before Kobernus trotted out for the game-winner.

Manning intercepted a last-second heave from Nowak to clinch the win as West fans stormed the field in a wild celebration.

Kobernus's goaltending skills helped him earn an invitation to the U.S. National under-17 team camp in June. The Crusaders probably wish he had stuck to soccer, his favorite sport.

"We showed great heart out here," Kobernus said. "We just came back after we were down and showed how good of a team we are. It was just a great game."

Contact reporter Norm Sanders at nsanders@bnd.com or 239-2454.