WEST END, Ohio − Leading 28-20 early in the third quarter, Wyoming opted for a surprise attack to seize all the momentum in Friday night's Division IV regional semifinal against Taft.
Wyoming kicker Carter Rummer hit a perfect, dribbling onside kick that went the permitted 10 yards. The junior survived a mad scrum for the pigskin and Wyoming was able to steal a critical possession.
Just over two minutes later, Wyoming quarterback Quaid Hauer tossed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Denham Miller to give the Cowboys a two-score lead they would keep for the remainder of the night en route to a 35-26 victory at Stargel Stadium.
"We felt like we needed to steal a possession," Wyoming head coach Aaron Hancock said. "Our kicker did a great job."
Wyoming (11-1), the Division IV state runner-up a season ago, advances to the regional semifinals against Springfield Shawnee.
Bulletin board material
Prior to leaving Wyoming High School for downtown Cincinnati Friday night, Hancock showed his players a pregame interview from Taft head coach Tyler Williams. It turned into motivation for Wyoming.
"He (Williams) said, 'tonight's win will be the most historic in Taft history,'" Hancock said. "It was the best five seconds I heard. I used it immediately after school today. That fired up our guys."
Hancock's bell-cow performance leads Wyoming past Taft
Wyoming running back Joel Hancock missed five games during the regular season but has made up for lost time with five consecutive 100-yard rushing performances. Hancock once again led the way for the No. 6 Cowboys, running 40 times for 169 yards and two touchdowns. He added a season-high four catches for 83 yards.
Hancock opened the game's scoring with a five-yard touchdown to put Wyoming up 7-0 with 6:14 left in the first quarter. The scoring drive was set up by Deuce Wiley's blocked punt and recovery at the Taft 14.
Hancock would rack up a season-high 252 yards from scrimmage, catching two passes for 49 yards on Wyoming's ensuing possession. Hancock ran eight times on Wyoming's opening drive of the second half, including an 11-yard score to put the Cowboys ahead 28-20 at the 5:51 mark of the third quarter before Rummer's onside kick.
Cowboys can sling it, too
Wyoming is no one-trick pony on the offensive side of the ball. Hauer was 9-of-13 through the air for 171 yards. The senior went 3-for-3 for 63 yards on the Cowboys' third drive of the game, then called his own number with a quarterback sneak on the first play of the second quarter to give Wyoming the lead for good at 14-8.
Hauer connected with Hancock for 18 yards on fourth down to move Wyoming into the red zone later in the quarter, then once again plunged in from a yard out to give the Cowboys a 21-8 advantage.
Senior D.J. Gray had two catches for 32 yards and receiver Denham Miller had a big second half. The senior was held without a catch in the first half, but quickly reeled in an acrobatic 24-yard catch off a deflection on the second play of the third quarter. Hauer went back to Miller for a third-down conversion later in the drive, then found the streaking receiver for the 25-yard score to give the Cowboys a commanding 35-20 lead with 3:41 left in the third quarter.
"I'm awfully proud of our offensive staff and players for grinding out that second half," Hancock said. "We're finally getting to a point where we actually have all of our guys. Being able to go with the plan we had all offseason. It's coming to fruition. I'm awfully proud of them."
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