The Andover Trojans traveled to Great Bend for an exciting start to the 2019 football season.

Some games are decided long before they end. Some games take longer for one team to build up a lead over the other. Then there are games that change in a minute, the last minute to be more specific.

Andover scored the first touchdown of the game early in the first quarter. Then to close out the first half, David Kemp kicked a 49 yard field goal to give the Trojans a 10 to 0 lead.

For most of the game, Great Bend’s offense could not sustain a drive. Their defense, on the other hand, held Andover’s offense mostly in check. They forced three turnovers, that the offense could not capitalize on.

With under three minutes to go in the game, the Panthers had three cracks at scoring a touchdown from one yard out. They could not get across the goal line. Andover celebrated their successful goal line stand.

The Trojans took over the ball on their one yard line. Great Bend’s defense held them to only a few yards of gain. Forced to punt from the end zone, Andover’s punter, quarterback Eli Fahnestock, saw his punt get blocked. In the scramble after the block, Fahnestock knocked the ball out the back of the end zone. This gave Great Bend a Safety and two points.

The Panthers now had 54 seconds and 50 yards to get eight more points to tie up the game. Their first three plays only netted six yards. On the fourth down, quarterback Dalton Miller heaved a Hail Mary pass to the end zone and receiver Alex Schremmer. Schremmer caught the ball and scored the touchdown as time expired for the game. They quickly converted the two point conversion to tie the game at 10 points all.

In overtime, Andover had the ball first, but they were unable to score. They attempted a field goal from about 26 yards out, but it barely missed.

Great Bend took the ball but were forced to attempt a field goal. Their kicker, Angel Razo, never attempted a field goal or even a point after touchdown in a game before. He stepped up and made the 29 yard field goal to win the game.

Afterwards fans dubbed the game the “Miracle on Morton.” Needless to say, it made for an exciting end to the first game of the season.

Below are some of the pictures I took at the game: