by John Severance
RESERVE – The town and school were ready to celebrate a district championships.
Windows in town were painted “Beat the Panthers,” and “Go Mountaineers.”
It also was senior day as Reserve honored its senior football players and cheerleaders along with their parents.
And on the very first play from scrimmage, quarterback Nolen Snyder found his twin brother Allyn Snyder for a 68-yard touchdown pass. The fans in the stands were pumped and so were the Mountaineers. Animas, though, had other ideas.
The Panthers kept the ball on the ground, keep the football away from the explosive Mountaineers, who suffered a heartbreaking 26-24 defeat Friday, severely damaging their district title hopes.
Animas will travel to Magdalena, which lost to Reserve 52-6 Oct. 16, Friday in its quest to clinch the title. All, however, is not lost for Reserve, which still is hoping for a state tournament berth.
If Animas beats Magdalena, the Panthers are district champions and the Mountainners will be runners-up.
If Magdalena wins, there will be a three-way tie. “If that happens, there is a good chance it will be us in the playoffs,” Cole said.
It only got worse for Reserve.
In the third quarter, Allyn Snyder hurt his knee after an Animas defender grabbed his facemask while tackling him.
Snyder stayed on the ground for close to 20 minutes while being tended to by coaches and then medical personnel. He was carted off the field by an ambulance.
Animas led 26-18 after an 8-yard run by Tyler Downs with 7:28 left. It didn’t take long for Reserve to score as it took all of 27 seconds. The two-point conversion, though, fell incomplete.
“We could not stop them and they could not stop us,” Cole said.
Reserve’s defense, though, came up with a stop and took over at its own 13.
Trevor Kaber broke loose on a 67-yard pass play from Nolen Snyder to the Animas 21. But on the very next play, Fisher fumbled at the Animas 13 with 4:04 left.
Animas ran out the clock even converting a fourth down and eight with 1:20 left on a fake punt.
“The kids called that one. They knew they had the upper hand,” Animas coach Louie Loburin said.
Cole said he was not surprised Animas went for it.
“I would have done the same thing,” Cole said.
Despite the loss, Cole said he had never been prouder of his team. “It was one of the best games I have seen in 15 years,” he said. “After Allyn got hurt, they rallied and they didn’t give up.”
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