Published: September 06, 2008 01:10 am            

Stars stun Jeff with comeback win

Bedford beats Red Devils in double overtime

JEFFERSONVILLE — Adversity.

Bedford North Lawrence overcame it, Jeffersonville did not, and the end result is that the Red Devils are 0-3 for the first time in five years.

The Stars overcame a 21-0 halftime deficit to win 34-33 in double overtime on Friday at Blair Field.

Bedford (2-1, 1-0 Hoosier Hills Conference) was staring at adversity right from the beginning, as second-string quarterback Jacob Perry went down on the first play of the game, turning the reigns over to third stringer Kam Korvela.

“They hit us with their third-string quarterback and beat us,” said Jeff coach Steve Cooley. “But give them credit, they showed a lot of heart coming back like they did.”

Jeffersonville (0-3, 0-2 HHC) still had a chance to pull it out with a two-point conversion, but Edward Baker’s pass intended for Adam Parella was batted away by Tyson Robbins. The Red Devils’ Jamie Goldsmith had just scored his fourth touchdown of the game as Jeffersonville started the second overtime period on defense.

“We went for two because they had the momentum and were looking for a big win on the road,” Cooley said. “Besides, we had one blocked, it was a little iffy.”

John Thomas had put Bedford on top 34-27 when he ran into the end zone untouched on a pitch out of field-goal formation.

Jeff scored first in the first overtime as Baker tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Ray, but the Stars answered when quarterback Korvela scored on a two-yard run.

Jeff built its halftime advantage with a defense that forced three fumbles, blocked a field-goal attempt and intercepted a pass. Goldsmith scored on runs of 28, three and two yards as he finished the game with 191 yards on 24 carries.

It could have easily gotten better for Jeff.

Bedford failed to recover an onside kick to open the second half. But after picking up a first down by way of an offsides penalty, Jeff ran three straight plays for negative yards. Ryan Pierce’s punt was blocked by Brian Martin and picked up by Landon Duncan, who returned it 30 yards for a touchdown.

Bedford then recovered the ensuing onside kick before driving 48 yards in 12 plays with Korvela scoring on a six-yard run.

Following a Jeff turnover on downs, the Stars then drove 79 yards in 13 plays with Korvela scoring from two yards out.

Tied at 21, the Devils got two big breaks on their next drive as Bedford was called for roughing the kicker on an attempted punt and then called for a face mask penalty after Goldsmith broke loose for 27 yards. But Baker fumbled two plays later and Jeff never saw the ball again in regulation.

Baker completed 6-of-12 passes for 49 yards. Bedford was led by Korvela with 121 yards on 27 carries, and he also completed 5-of-13 passes for 67 yards with one interception.

“Maybe we played better on defense, but we still gave up too many yards and you can’t do that,” Cooley said. “We turned the ball over and had some trouble on special teams.”

Jeff now finds itself in a position thought unthinkable when the season began — looking for its first win next Friday when it meets Madison.



BEDFORD NL 0 0 14 7 13—34

JEFFERSONVILLE 14 7 0 0 12 —33



1st quarter

J — Goldsmith 28 run (Straight kick), 9:53

J — Goldsmith 3 run (Straight kick), 0:11

2nd quarter

J — Goldsmith 2 run (Straight kick), 1:32

3rd quarter

B — Duncan 30 blocked punt return (Moorman kick), 8:41

B — Korvela 6 run (Moorman kick), 2:11

4th quarter

B — Korvela 2 run (Moorman kick), 5:11

Overtime

J — Ray 10 pass from Baker (kick failed)

B — Korvela 2 run (kick failed)

Second overtime

B — Thomas 4 run (Moorman kick)

J — Goldsmith 3 run (pass failed)

        

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