Last second FG gives Vernon 38-35 win over Ponder

Daniel Walker
Vernon Record
The Vernon Lions defeated the Ponder Lions 38-35 in an epic district battle at Leo Brittain Field last Friday night.
“This was a testament to our guys’ tenacity, perseverance – they never quit,” Vernon Coach Kevin Sherrill said. “We needed to win a game like that. If you want to make a deep playoff run, you’ve got to win games like this.”
With game tied 35-35 in the final five minutes, the Vernon defense made two epic stands to get the ball back with 35 seconds left. The offense then marched down the field to set up a game-winning field goal.
The game started as track meet in the first half. Ponder took the opening kickoff and went six plays for a score and a 7-0 lead with 10:19 left in the first quarter.
Vernon responded with two lightning-fast back-to-back touchdowns. Quarterback Ty Scott faked a pass, rolled left and then sliced through the Ponder defense for a 66-yard touchdown and it was 7-7 after Mu Soe’s extra point.
“Ty was a difference maker. He’s always our leader, but he’s had to battle through injury and adversity and the pressure of being the starter. He’s overcome injury and accepted the challenge to be the leader for the whole team,” Coach Sherrill said. “He turned it up a notch. I think he really grew a lot as a leader in this game.”
Scott was dynamic, both with his legs and his arm. He went 9 of 12 passing for 181 yards and two touchdowns, and had 15 carries for 151 yards and 2 more scores.
On Ponder’s next drive, Vernon linebacker Tyce Payne stripped the ball from the Ponder back and raced 36 yards for a defensive score putting Vernon ahead 14-7 with 9:21 left in the first quarter.
“Tyce had a great game, as a freshman leading our team in tackles, getting that strip. He was a difference maker. He’s such a great kid and plays really hard. I am excited to watch him continue to grow,” Coach Sherrill said.
Payne led the defense with 12 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a defensive touchdown, and a blocked kick.
Vernon stopped a fake punt try at the Ponder 37 and then went seven plays, converting two third downs, with Scott running in from 4 yards out to give Vernon a 21-7 lead with 11 seconds left in the first quarter.
Vernon was threatening to run away with the game after again forcing Ponder to punt. But, the punt rolled dead at the three-yard line, pinning Vernon deep. The Lions were knocked back on second down and gave up a safety that turned the momentum back to Ponder with the score 21-9. The visitors then drove a short field, scoring on a 8-yard pass with 8:06 left in the half. Payne blocked the extra point, and it was 21-15.
Vernon fumbled at its own 35 on the next drive. Ponder drove to face a fourth and goal from the one, but a penalty gave them an automatic first down and they scored on the next play. The extra point sailed wide and the game was tied 21-21 with 3:44 till half.
The Lions needed just six plays to respond, with a 19-yard pass from Scott to Jamari Chance for the score. Soe’s kick made it 28-21 with 1:34 left in the half.
Ponder flew back down the field and scored on a 2-yard run with 27 seconds left that tied the game 28-28 heading to halftime.
Vernon got a nice return out to the 45 from Keinin Gardner to start the second half. Scott ran 17 yards on first down then threw to Tru Gipson down to the 16. Scott then tossed a TD to Gardner to give Vernon the 35-28 led with 10:50 left in the third quarter. Ponder came right back, driving 68 yards in nine plays to tie the game 35-35 with 7:03 left in the third quarter.
Then the defenses kicked it up. Vernon’s next drive stalled with a turnover on downs at the Ponder 20. Ponder drove to the Vernon 12, but Carter Kieschnick forced a fumble that Bowie Aiken recovered.
“The running back had the first down but Carter Kieschnick came in and forced that fumble. He wrapped his arm around him and stripped the ball out. I’m so very proud of him, the way he’s come on this season. That was a big play, and then for Bowie Aikin to be aware and get on the ball,” Coach Sherrill said.
Vernon’s next drive was stymied by an illegal man downfield penalty that wiped out a first down inside Ponder’s 30. The Lions had to punt and Ponder started at the 16.
Ponder drove to the Vernon 34, facing a 2nd and 6, the Vernon defense forced three straight incompletions and got the ball back with 36 seconds left in the game.
Scott threw two short passes of 6 and 7 yards to Jamari Chance, who got out of bounds with 24 seconds left. Scott then threw deep to Evan Wilkinson, who hauled in a 31-yard catch and got out of bounds at the 17 with 15 seconds left. Scott picked up two yards on a keeper. And Mu Soe and the field goal team ran out on the field with 8 seconds left. Soe’s 32-yard kick was good and Vernon led 38-35.
“Mu Soe, I am super proud of him. He’s a real soft-spoken kid, just a freshman, but he was clutch. We told him before the season there would be a game where he would win it with his leg. He won this game with his leg for us, hopefully he can win another for us in the playoffs. Not only did he make the field goal, but he kicked five extra points, and made several big tackles on special teams,” Coach Sherrill said.
After a squib kick, Ponder had time for one play, but Landon Bynum broke through for a sack to end the game.

Vernon kicker Mu Soe, with the hold by Ty Scott, boots the game winning field goal for the Lions in the 38-35 win Friday, October 4, 2024.
Mike Chacanaca/Vernon Record