Not once. Not twice. Three times, Nordonia coach Jeff Fox had to call on senior Connor Rafferty to bail out the Knights.
Rafferty kicked three field goals in a 16-8 season opening win over Bedford.
The first was a 38-yarder on the final play of the first half. On the previous series, Nordonia, then up 7-0, lost a fumble at the Bedford two with 42 seconds left.
The Knights got down to the one in the third quarter when a bad snap from center forced Ben Chesser to recover back at the 16, leading to Rafferty's second kick with 7:17 to play.
Chesser, a junior quarterback, was intercepted on the second play of the game. He also had a long touchdown run called back because of a holding penalty.
Another holding penalty wiped out a sizeable return following an interception of Bedford QB Daniel Bridgeport. He would complete six passes out of 19 attempts for a total of 85 yards
J.J. Hudson was the workhorse for the Bearcats, gaining 75 yards on 25 carries. He scored on a one-yard run with 2:52 remaining in the third period. Bridgeport then found Mike Keen in the end zone for two points, making the score 13-8.
The Knights then punted, only to have another bad snap lead to a short kick by Cheeser.
Bridgeport was intercepted a second time. Israel Petitte returned the ball to the Bedford 25, and three plays later, Rafferty kicked his third FG of the game
A 26-yard run by junior Rocco DeLorenzo in the first quarter accounted for Nordonia's lone TD. DeLorenzo had 109 yards for the game.
Chesser was 10 of 16 passing for 103 yards, most of which came in the first half.
Rafferty kicked three field goals in a 16-8 season opening win over Bedford.
The first was a 38-yarder on the final play of the first half. On the previous series, Nordonia, then up 7-0, lost a fumble at the Bedford two with 42 seconds left.
The Knights got down to the one in the third quarter when a bad snap from center forced Ben Chesser to recover back at the 16, leading to Rafferty's second kick with 7:17 to play.
Chesser, a junior quarterback, was intercepted on the second play of the game. He also had a long touchdown run called back because of a holding penalty.
Another holding penalty wiped out a sizeable return following an interception of Bedford QB Daniel Bridgeport. He would complete six passes out of 19 attempts for a total of 85 yards
J.J. Hudson was the workhorse for the Bearcats, gaining 75 yards on 25 carries. He scored on a one-yard run with 2:52 remaining in the third period. Bridgeport then found Mike Keen in the end zone for two points, making the score 13-8.
The Knights then punted, only to have another bad snap lead to a short kick by Cheeser.
Bridgeport was intercepted a second time. Israel Petitte returned the ball to the Bedford 25, and three plays later, Rafferty kicked his third FG of the game
A 26-yard run by junior Rocco DeLorenzo in the first quarter accounted for Nordonia's lone TD. DeLorenzo had 109 yards for the game.
Chesser was 10 of 16 passing for 103 yards, most of which came in the first half.
