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Saturday, October 21, 2000

R-F's unlikely call produces winning TD
Key's overtime carry lifts Pirates to victory
By Mark Zuckerman
Caller-Times
Considering Randy Key's performance through the first four quarters, it might have seemed like a bad call on the part of the Rockport-Fulton coaching staff.
   With the Pirates and Gregory-Portland tied at 10 in overtime of a matchup between District 30-4A unbeatens, Key was probably the last person anyone inside Wildcat Stadium figured would get the ball.
   The R-F quarterback had carried the ball only seven previous times for 23 yards and was 0 for 4 with an interception on the passing end. The Pirates faced second-and-9 from the G-P 24-yard line, and the roar from the standing-room-only crowd of 8,200 was deafening.
   Hardly the time to try something new.
   But Pirates offensive coordinator Johnnie Hollinger had a play up his sleeve, one he thought could produce a big play for his team when it needed it most.
   From his seat in the press box, Hollinger called in to head coach Gary Autry a play with a simple name: "17."
   "We got that from the press box," Autry said. "Coach Hollinger made a great call."
   Key took the snap, rolled left and saw nothing but daylight. He scampered down the sideline untouched into the end zone, giving R-F the lead. And when the Pirates stuffed G-P four straight times on the following possession, Key raised his helmet in the air in celebration of his team's 17-10 victory.
   "Best play we ran all night," Key said. "And it came at a good time."
   Throughout the evening, the Wildcats' defense had stifled Key, who came into the game with 494 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Every time the senior quarterback tried to get to the outside, a G-P defender was waiting.
   On the game-winning play, though, R-F specifically had a blocker ready to seal off the outside defensive lineman.
   "They were bringing a defensive end and taking the cutback away," said running back Brett Baer (7 carries, 26 yards). "So we pushed them inside, took it to the corner and Randy went after it. Everybody did their job."
   Key's Pirate teammates figured it was only a matter of time before their leader broke one for a big play.
   "They slowed him down, but he's going to get his yards sometime in the night," R-F defensive back Cody Revel said. "He was due to break out."
   For his part, Key managed to maintain his confidence despite his game-long struggles. And when he stepped to the line of scrimmage on what would prove to be the deciding play, the Pirates' quarterback saw his opportunity to make up for an otherwise disappointing evening.
   "They were playing great defense; they had us keyed," Key said. "But we just had to keep playing. We couldn't let the little things hurt us. It only takes one play."
   One big play in one big game that resulted in one big win for Rockport-Fulton.



Staff writer Mark Zuckerman can be reached at 886-3747 or by e-mail at zuckermanm@caller.com

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