Hornets fall on missed FG as time expires

HELENA -- After a thrilling second half, it was no surprise that the rivalry game between Chelsea High School and Helena came down to the final seconds.

Unfortunately for the visiting Hornets, a 46-yard field goal attempt from Cooper Neal fell short as time expired, giving Helena a 31-28 win and first place in Class 6A, Region 5.

A 305-yard, three-touchdown performance from Chelsea senior quarterback Caleb Moore could not overcome the Hornets’ inability to contain Helena running back Marquise Johnson, who carried the ball 33 times for 224 yards and two touchdowns. 

Huskies quarterback Luke Stamba also ran well, rushing for 94 yards on 12 carries, more than making up for fewer than 50 yards passing.

“Sometimes you come up short, and tonight, we did,” Chelsea coach Dustin Goodwin said after the game.

There was little to anticipate the final score reaching a combined 59 points after the first half, which ended with the teams even at 7-7. While both teams moved the ball relatively well in the first half, both defenses stepped up as needed to end drives. 

Chelsea struck first, on the last play of the first quarter, on a 2-yard touchdown run from Adam Reaves. The run followed a 57-yard pass from Moore to receiver Michael Gibbs, who finished with seven catches, 192 yards and two touchdowns, followed by a 26-yard run after the catch for running back Collier Blair.

Helena answered on its next drive, with Stamba finding Tony Ruiz on a 12-yard touchdown pass a few minutes into the second quarter.

Both teams were called for several personal foul penalties throughout the game, with no love lost between the two rivals. 

After the break, the offenses came alive. Helena’s Johnson scored from seven yards out on the Huskies’ first drive, and a few minutes later, punched it in from 36 yards out to put Helena up 21-7.

Not to be outdone, Moore slung his first touchdown of the game to Gibbs, a 43-yard score over the top of the Helena defense. 

However, a three-and-out on Chelsea’s next possession ended with a short punt for the Hornets, giving Helena a short field. The Huskies capitalized, scoring on a 8-yard run from Ruiz to go up 28-14 at the end of the third quarter.

However, on their next drive, a 58-yard pass from Moore to Gibbs again put the Hornets within striking distance. They finished the drive with a 5-yard pass from Moore to Holton Smith to draw within a touchdown.

Still down a touchdown with only 5:30 remaining, the Hornets defense rose to the occasion by forcing and recovering a fumble inside the Helena 30-yard line. Gibbs hauled in his second touchdown, an 18-yard strike, a few minutes later. 

But the Helena rushing attack still had one more drive in it. Johnson took over on the next possession for the Huskies, picking up 61 yards to set up a 30-yard field goal attempt for Logan Maloney, who drilled it through the uprights with 34 seconds left to give Helena the lead.

Chelsea’s visitor section roared to life shortly after as Moore found Ladarius Gary for 42 yards to put the Hornets within field goal range with 26 seconds left. 

However, after a holding penalty, followed by Moore’s last completion, a 13-yard pass to Gary, Neal’s field goal attempt missed, giving Helena the win.

Both teams were essentially one-dimensional Friday night, with Chelsea passing for 305 yards and rushing for only 60 yards, and Helena rushing for 338 yards and passing for only 43 yards.

“I think both teams played their tails off,” Goodwin said. “It’s a credit to their staff and their players and how hard they play.”

Next week, Chelsea, who dropped to 4-2 and 3-1 in the region with the loss, will host Homewood.

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