Fredericktown Blackcat football

After three weeks, The Fredericktown Blackcats football team has played two games which went down to the wire.

Friday night they grabbed a one-point lead in the second quarter and held it for the rest of the game. They topped undefeated host Herculaneum, 7-6. The victory gave the 10th-ranked (Missouri Class 3)Blackcats a 3-0 start to the 2008 season.

After the two teams went back and forth with no scoring for the first quarter, Fredericktown mounted a drive early in the second. They began at their own 18-yard line, and drove down the field. A fake punt for a first down kept the drive alive. Later, running back Joey Lewandowski took the ball in from the three. Ryan Gifford kicked the extra point, and it turned out to be the game-winner. The Cats led 7-0 with 9:03 to play in the half.

Herculaneum came right back to score its own touchdown in just under four minutes. The PAT was no good, however, and the Cats led 7-6 with 4:54 to play in the half.

Both teams had scoring opportunities in the final minute of the half. Lewandowski scored what appeared to be his second touchdown of the game, but the play was called back on a penalty. Later, with the clock running down, a Herculaneum defender intercepted a pass at the five and took off the other way. He was caught at midfield to end the half.

The Cats defense held Herky to four second-half punts, while the offense controled the clock. FHS had one long drive end on a fourth down play. Another long drive by the Cats came as time was getting short in the game. The Cats drove all the way to the Herculaneum one-yard line. Again, it was fourth down. This time, a fumble turned the ball over to the home team.

With time running out, Herculaneum drove deep into Fredericktown territory. A Jeremy Ball sack of Herky quarterback Jason Washburn came with under a minute to play. On the next play, Jake Sikes was able to knock the ball loose from a Herculaneum receiver and thwart the go ahead touchdown. With 30 seconds left in the game, Herculaneum went for a field goal to try and win it. Adam Daniels blocked the kick, and the ball went straight up and was recovered by the Cats. FHS then ran out the clock to preserve the victory.

Joey Lewandowski carried the ball 30 times for 144 yards. A.P. Lewandowski completed all four of his passes for 37 yards. Jon O’Neal  caught three for 30 yards.

Fredericktown will host Scott City this Friday for Homecoming.