Bell?s game-winning catch lifts NL to huge win

BY ANDY KRUTSINGER

Mt. Pleasant News

NEW LONDON ? The New London football team took a giant step in their push for the playoffs on Friday night.

Thanks to a last-minute touchdown catch by Dallas Bell, the Tigers upended Montezuma, 28-22, in a game that had major playoff implications.

Bell caught the pass from Tiger quarterback Blake Nehring on fourth down with just 28 seconds left on the clock and the game tied 22-22.

Montezuma started the scoring off in the first quarter on a one-yard touchdown run, but Keontae Luckett immediately tied the game at 6-6 with a 75-yard kick return touchdown on the ensuing kickoff.

Luckett?s big play was New London?s only score of the first half. A 38-yard passing touchdown and a two-point conversion gave Montezuma a 14-6 lead at the break.

Midway through the third quarter, Isaac McSorely had the play of the night for the Tiger defense. He picked off a pass and ran it 74 yards all the way to the end zone. Luckett caught the two-point pass from Nehring and it was 14-14 after three quarters.

Luckett found the end zone with 8:36 left in the third quarter when Nehring hit him with a 13-yard pass to break the tie. Tyler Stevenson ran in the two-point conversion and New London led for the first time, at 22-14.

Montezuma struck right back with a two-yard touchdown run and another two-point conversion to tie it at 22-22, but Bell and the Tigers had one last score in them.

The Tigers converted on two fourth downs during the game-winning drive. The second ended the scoring at 28-22.

Nehring finished the game 14-25 for 112 yards and two scores. McSorely lead the team with 40 yards receiving and Stevenson muscled out 123 yards on the ground.

On defense, Cole Helmerson led the way with 9.5 tackles. McSorely and Jordan Riley each had one interception and Kendall Hampton had the team?s lone fumble recovery.

The victory moved the Tigers to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in conference. Only they and Lynnville-Sully are currently sitting undefeated in Class A District 6. Those two teams will meet on Oct. 7.

For their next act, the Tigers will travel to North Mahaska, on Friday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m., where they will look to win their fourth game in a row.