Football Pulls Off Stunner at Moline

Incredible. Indescribable. Unbelievable. Unforgettable. Those words appropriately describe what happened at Browning Field in Moline on Friday night (8/24) as the SHS Football team rallied from a 24-10 third quarter deficit to knock off Moline 28-24.

Sterling got to within 24-16 in the third quarter when SHS senior Jake Hermes won a jump ball with two Moline defenders. After making the leaping catch, Hermes raced into the end zone for a 56-yard touchdown reception. Raciel Ocampo’s conversion kick missed wide right.

Sterling still trailed by eight with under five minutes to play in the fourth quarter when Hermes made another big play. Sterling faced a fourth-and-seven call from Moline’s 43 yard line. Sterling’s junior quarterback Niko Rivera found Hermes wide-open down the left sideline and Hermes took it the distance to pull the Warriors within two at 24-22.

Forced to go for two on the conversion, Rivera’s pass into the end zone fell incomplete.

It looked like Moline was going to be able to run the clock out with its ensuing possession as the Maroons drove all the way to the Sterling five-yard line with about 1:30 to play. After a one-yard gain and a fumbled pitchout that resulted in an eight-yard loss, Sterling called its final timeout. On the next play, Moline attempted a pass into the end zone, which fell incomplete to set up fourth and goal from the 13.

Then the incredible happened. Moline decided to attempt a 30-yard field goal. The snap bounced back to holder Christian Davis who picked up the ball, rolled to the right and lofted a desperation pass into the air. The ball was slightly deflected and fell into the waiting hands of Sterling’s James Eshleman. Eshleman then motored 91 yards for an interception return touchdown to incredibly give Sterling the lead 28-24.

After Sterling missed a two point conversion attempt, Moline took over at it own 25 yard line with 34 seconds left. Maroon senior quarterback Bennet Welser then engineered a drive all the way to the Sterling 19 yard line with two seconds left. On the final play of the game, Welser’s pass attempt into the end zone was tipped away and fell incomplete, trigging a wild Golden Warrior celebration.

Hermes caught three passes for 126 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Rivera was 5-10 passing for 141 yards. Junior Ben Minnick paced Sterling’s ground attack with 99 yards on 11 carries, including a 23 yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Moline's offense rolled up 406 yards of total offense and 22 first downs, but Sterling found a way to win.

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