THEY EARNED THIS ONE...as Miami East overcame a 14-0 deficit to a young, talented and determined Ansonia team for a 20-14 victory.

By Dwaine Maxson
OCTOBER 17, 2008 - ANSONIA
The Vikings rallied to overcome a tough Ansonia squad's 14-0 lead to win 20-14 and at least claim a share of the Cross County Conference title. It is their third league title in Miami East's football history as they joined the 1965 and 1983 teams as league champions. Next week they will try to join the 1983 team as the only other outright league champion in the school's history.

The Tigers got the ball moving in the first quarter mixing the run and the pass. They eventually scored on an 8 yard run by Derek Bubeck to take an early 7-0 lead. The Vikings offense was unable to get going and managed a few first downs.

It looked like Miami East's defense started to slow down the Tiger attack, but late in the second quarter Ansonia started moving the ball again. Then with a little over a minute remaining in the half the Tigers' Ryan Fosnaugh scored on a 1 yard run to put them up 14-0. It looked like that might be the score going into halftime, but after a good kick return the Vikings got things going. Justin Baker finally managed to complete a 41 yard pass to Dalton Saylor to set East up on the Ansonia 13 yard line. On the very next play Sam Smallwood scored on a 13 yard run to cut the Tigers' lead to 14-7 with 26 seconds left in the half.

"That score right before half was big. It gave us some momentum to build on," one of the Viking coaches later commented.

Miami East came out deteremined in the second half. The Vikings kept it up with some hard running by Smallwood who gained 144 of his 251 yards in the third quarter. On East's second offensive possession in the third Smallwood scored on a 10 yard run and after the extra point the scored was tied 14-14. Then on their next possession Smallwood scored on a 46 yard run to the Vikings and they took the lead 20-14.

Throughout most of the second half the Viking defense held the Tiger offense in check. Ansonia managed only 1 yard rushing in the third quarter and only 23 for the second half of their 103 for the game. Although the Tiger did not give up and managed to slow down the Miami East offense in the fourth quarter. Ansonia managed to threaten to score again, but then with the ball in the Vikings' 11 yard line on fourth down and 3 to go Dereck Bubeck fumbled the snap and was immediately tackled by the Miami East defenders with about a 1:10 remaining in the game. The Vikings then took a few kneel downs and the game was over.

"Ansonia is a tough team. I talked with a few of kids this week and they were concerned, but they came out and played hard in the face of adversity. Sam ran the hardest that we have ever seen," Viking Coach Max Current later said.

He went on to say about the Tigers, "Eugene (Hoening) is a good coach and always has his kids ready to play. Ansonia's quarterback is very good and going to be very good for them over the next two years."

Tigers quarterback Derek Bubeck was 17 of 27 for 134 yards passing on the night, but it was not enough as they came up short. The Vikings leading offensive player was Sam Smallwood who carried the ball 26 times for 251 yards and three touchdowns.

Next week Miami East hosts Arcanum, while Ansonia travels to Twin Valley South.

Score by Quarters:
..................1....2....3....4.....Final
Miami East....0....7...13...0.......20
Ansonia........7....7...0....0........14

Scoring Summary:
ANS-Dereck Bubeck 8 yard run (Brandon Liette kick).
ANS-Ryan Fosnaugh 1 yard run (Liette kick).
ME-Sam Smallwood 13 yard run (Justin Nosker kick).
ME-Smallwood 10 yard run (Nosker kick).
ME-Smallwood 46 yard run (kick failed).

Records: Ansonia 6-3 (6-2); Miami East 8-1 (8-0).