Second chance kick nips ‘hawks at Asotin

A wild final 15 seconds ended with an Asotin field goal that sank the Nighthawk eleven 15-14 in a SE 2B league opener Friday night at Asotin.

Grant Parsons, who had missed two extra points earlier in the game, pushed a 25-yard field goal through the uprights with no time left on the clock to ice the Panthers win and put an end to a penalty-riddled final few clicks.

“We came up with some real good stops in the red zone,” said TOR Coach Kaleb Madison. “But you can’t leave a good team in the game.”

With the ‘hawks up 14-12, Asotin drove the ball down to the three-yard line. Officials twice flagged TOR for offsides penalties, and Parsons plunged into the end zone on a QB sneak. It was erased on penalty against the Panthers for assisting Parsons across the goal line. Asotin then lined up for a field goal, but the Nighthawks blocked it.

Another flag for a TOR offsides gave Parsons another shot.

“You’ve got to give it to that kid,” said Madison. “He kicked that field goal two or three times.”

He drilled it, penalty-free, on the last try, giving the Panthers the win.

“It was a great game. Those are the games you love to coach and play in,” said Coach Madison.

Craig Nelson cracked open the scoring with a 10 yard run early in the first quarter. Asotin answered back with a 4-yarder from Levi Forsberg, who also had a 3-yard scoring scamper in the fourth.

Nighthawk QB Ryan Maley, taking over for starter Micah Pittsley, added a sneak TD in the fourth after scrambling 12 yards to the goal line on the previous play.

Madison credited cornerback Brock Shelton for shutting down the potent Asotin passing attack, racking up six quick tackles on short passes, grabbing an interception and preventing Panther receivers from getting behind him.

TOR next takes a long road trip to take on Soap Lake. Coach Madison said he has little to go on in preparing for the clean team.

“I’m not really sure what to expect,” he said. “It’s hard to get too much information on a team from another time zone.”

The ‘hawks defeated Soap Lake 43-27 at Rosalia last year.