Late game field goal puts Titans on top 51-50

Amber Neate, The Dickinson Press, N.D.
·3 min read

Oct. 1—DICKINSON — With the game hanging in the balance, a hush came over the crowds at the Biesiot Activities Center as the Trinity Titans faced a critical fourth-and-10, down by 2 and with only three minutes on the clock. To stay undefeated would require a gutsy call.

The Titan game plan was simple, they were going to go for a long shot fourth down attempt, but a split second decision by Odermann would instead place his faith and the pressure of the game on something different.

"The guys said, 'Coach, let's kick it,'" John Odermann, head football coach, said. "'Nick's going to hit it.'"

All eyes fell on Titan sophomore kicker Nick Sobolik, who took his position next to the placeholder and prepared himself. Then the whistle came. Hazen would try and ice the young Titan kicker in hopes that building anticipation and nerves would result in a miscue and Bison victory.

"I realized it was a twin game and I was ready to kick it if I got the call," Sobolik said. "My heart was at a million miles per hour, but my head was cool, calm and collected. My team had confidence in me and that makes me feel great. It helped me focus."

A second set and ready would be followed by a held-breath field goal attempt that would sail through the inside laterals and usher in a Titan victory — amid bedlam on the sidelines and in the stands.

Trinity maintained their region-best record, defeating Hazen 51-50 in a game that Odermann said was clutch.

"It was a phenomenal and exciting play and a great team victory tonight," Odermann said. "Nick is a kid that puts in the work. On Saturdays and Sundays, he's at the field kicking extra points. He did it all summer. He knew that with Aiden Haich graduating last year we were going to need a place kicker and he's become a weapon for us not just for kick offs but on PAT's (extra points) and now on a game winning field goal."

In the first quarter, Trinity trailed the Bison 8-0. Senior running back Kaison Kaylor was a speed demon for Hazen cutting through the Titans defensive line — a task that most opponents have been unable to do this season.

Quarterback Jace Kovash was quick to retaliate, bringing in a 55-yard touchdown run for Trinity in a game that, at moments, saw the Bison struggled with penalties, incomplete passes and missed assignments in the backfield which cost them dearly.

"Hazen had a great game plan dialed up offensively," Odermann said. "They took advantage probably of some things they saw in film on our defensive side of the ball that we've got to figure out."

Odermann added, "This is one we have to celebrate and forget about quick so we can go get a region title next week."

Titans (7-0) def. Hazen 51-50

TRN 14 20 6 11, HHS 8 14 20 8

Individual Stats

Jace Kovash, QB, 20-33-313, 2 TD; Ty Dassinger, RB, 19-109, 3 TD; Kovash, OFF, 6-56; Luke Shobe, WR, 9-130, 3 TD; Gage Glaser, WR, 5-89; Thomas Jacobs, WR, 2-38; Dassinger, LB, 11 TK; Izaak Kudrna, DB, 6 TK; Hugh Meyer, DL, 6 TK