Carver nails 21 yard field goal in double overtime to lift Mesa over Phoenix College, 55-52

Phoenix, AZ- Every fan that paid admission Saturday night to the Mesa Thunderbirds at Phoenix College football game not only got their moneys worth, but got a bit extra at no cost. 

The three hour, forty minute, six quarter, 107 point spectacle reach its grand finale in the second overtime when Austin Carver(So., Gilbert, AZ, Gilbert H.S.) connected on a 21 yard field goal from the right hashmark to give Mesa the victory, 55-52, in a double overtime game at Phoenix College.

Preface

Phoenix College (0-2) Mesa (0-2)

Both teams entered tonights game 0-2, tied for last place in the Western States Football League standings.  Not only was Phoenix 0-2 on the season, they had only won once in their last 23 contests, and that victory came by way of an Arizona Western forfeit. 

Game Recap

Mesa turned to freshman quarterback Rathan Ricedorff(Fr., Showlow, AZ, Showlow H.S.) who did not disappoint in his first start as Mesa quarterback. The Showlow native threw four touchdown passes, the last coming at a huge time in the fourth quarter to tie the game up at 52.  A natural right hander, Ricedorff rolled to his left, while under direst, launch across his body a perfect strike to Devin Reed(Fr., Chandler, AZ, Basha H.S.) who had beat his defender into the endzone for a 45 yard touchdown.  Also hauling in touchdown passes were Aaron Molina(Fr., Albuquerque, N.M., Valley High) who accounted for the first two Mesa TD passes and Joshua Aganon(So., Scottsdale, AZ, Chaparral H.S.) who also caught a 70 yard TD last week against Glendale.

The T-Bird defense roughed up starting Phoenix quarterback Nick Duckworth on the Bears second possession, taking him out of the game with a left shoulder injury.  Mesa however wasn't prepared for the fleight of foot backup Joshua Eckley, who seemed to play with the confidence of a two year starter.  Mesa continually pressured the freshman backup but Eckley could quickly turn an almost sack into a positive play. 

Mesa allowed 45 first half points to the Bears.  The T-Birds were down 45-35 at half. 

2nd Half

Though Eckley had his moments in the first half, the T-Bird coaching staff reformulated their game plan and stopped the Bear quarterback and his offense in the third quarter.  Mesa in fact didn't allow the Bears to score in the third quarter while the T-Birds came out on their first two possessions and put ten points on the board, tieing the game at 45.  Carver connected on a 37 yard field goal followed by a Terrance Roberts, Jr.(Fr., Phoenix, AZ, Desert Vista H.S.) five yard touchdown run.

With 11:53 left to go in the fourth, Eckley did connect with a Bear receiver for a 43 yard touchdown but less than two minutes later, Ricedorff completed the 45 yard bomb to Reed mentioned earlier to tie the game.  

Regulation ended in a 52-52 tie.

OT 

Both field goal kickers kicked fantastic in this contest. Neither one missed an extra point.  

The T-Birds started with the ball first.  Not being able to get a first down, Mesa attempted a field goal that was tipped by the Bear defense, the ball coming up short of being good, leaving Phoenix the oppurtunity to score and finish the game.  Facing the same situation, Phoenix couldn't get a first down, relying on their kicker to finish the game.  His attempt sailed wide right, sending the game to its second overtime.

Phoenix started with the ball.  On second down, Eckley lofted a jump ball into the endzone but Sean Eremia(Fr., Mesa, AZ, Desert Ridge H.S.) was able to intercept it for Mesa. 

Mesa was able to wiggle inside the redzone for Carver, who booted in the 21 yarder and gave Mesa their first win of the season.  

Record

With the 55-52 final, this was the second highest point total in Mesa football history.  Mesa fell to Scottsdale, 58-55 in 2013. 

Next Week

The T-Birds will back home against the Pima Aztecs.  The Aztecs are riding a four game winning streak into Mesa and a birth in the national rankings. They clobbered New Mexico Military in Tucson 58-31 while also laying the hammer against Phoenix College in week one, 54-14.

Catch that game on T-Bird Sports Live, starting a 7 p.m.