As he lined up for the biggest kick of his high school football career, Bel Air’s Devin Trzeciak didn’t have the confidence of, let’s say Ravens’ All-Pro kicker Justin Tucker drinking Royal Farms coffee in medical scubs.
His previous kick attempt badly sailed wide. The one before was blocked. The other landed harmlessly yards shy of the goal post to end regulation play between Bel Air and Edgewood.
Trzeciak didn’t feel good when his foot met the ball in his latest attempt. The ball went awkwardly high, but between the uprights.
Then, Trzeciak made a beeline to the stands to celebrate perfection for the Bobcats. In one of the longest games in UCBAC history, No. 15 Bel Air defeated the Rams, 28-27, in four overtimes to clinch the Chesapeake Division crown.
“We worked hard all week watching film and putting things together,” said Bobcats senior running back/linebacker Nate Furrow. “Honestly, we didn’t think it would go to four overtimes, but we were ready for anything that came our way.”
After nearly three and a half hours of gridiron attrition, Bel Air (9-0 overall) completed a perfect regular season and first UCBAC Chesapeake (6-0) championship since 2015. The Bobcats stand alongside No. 1 St. Frances, fourth-ranked Dunbar, No. 5 Milford Mill, sixth-ranked St. Mary’s and No. 10 Atholton as the area’s only undefeated programs.
“We knew we had a special group, but 9-0 is tough,” said Bobcats coach Eric Siegel, who has 20 seniors on the roster. “We knew we had a group that had the potential to be much better than we were last year.”
Behind the running of Furrow (20 carries, 85 yards) and Nehemiah Ramsey, Bel Air controlled the pace against Edgewood for most of regulation Friday. The Bobcats led 15-7 early in the fourth quarter after Ramsey (18 carries, 91 yards) was able to keep his footing after finding space and sprinted to the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown.
Edgewood (7-2, 5-1 Chesapeake) got a big kickoff return past midfield from Jahmir Torres, who later pulled down Caesar Travers’ pass for a 34-yard gain into the Bobcats’ red-zone. Isaiah Megginson found the end zone from 10 yards and followed with the two-point conversion, tying the game at 15 with 9:10 left in regulation.
The Bobcats got the ball at their 31 with 8:51 remaining and drove to Edgewood’s 24. Trzeciak’s 41-yard attempt landed short with three seconds left in regulation.
Bel Air got the ball first in overtime, and Trzeciak’s 30-yard attempt was blocked. Edgewood’s possession was horrific with four straight penalties. On first-and-goal from its 44, Rams quarterback Caesar Travers was intercepted.
Megginson scored from a yard to start the second overtime, but was stopped on the two-point conversion run attempt. On the next play, Ramsey scored his second touchdown, but Bel Air was whistled for a false start on the point-after attempt, pushing the ball back five yards.
Trzeciak’s extra-point attempt for the win hooked left, sending the game to a third overtime, tied at 21. The Bobcats got possession to start the next round, but, on fourth down, quarterback Jay Perez fumbled and Edgewood recovered.
The Rams, who were whistled for an unsportsmanlike penalty after the fumble recovery, started their possession at the 25-yard line. Edgewood failed to convert, but received the ball to start the fourth overtime.
Travers found Isaiah Martin in the corner at the pylon on fourth down for a 27-21 lead. The Rams threw an incomplete pass (called for illegal motion) on the two-point conversion attempt.
Bel Air answered as Furrow covered the 10 yards in three touches, setting the stage for Trzeciak.
“I kicked it then I hit it again…it went straight up and looked like it was curving left, I was like we’re going to have to do this (overtime) all over again,” said Trzeciak, a junior. “It went through and it was excitement.”
Siegel appreciated Trzeciak’s resolve.
“Every time he went for a kick, I told him I love him,” said Siegel. “I knew in the end he was going to do what he needed to do.”
Bel Air was denied by the Rams on fourth down on the game’s opening possession. Edgewood went 51 yards in nine plays, capped with Travers’ five-yard score.
The Bobcats answered with a seven-play, 54-yard drive as Perez found Mason Ferrell for a 23-yard touchdown. Bel Air converted the two-point conversion after the Rams drew back-to-back penalties.
Edgewood was hamstrung by penalties (17) Friday including eight in overtime, leaving Rams coach Keith Rawlings frustrated.
“It was a great game. Bel Air is 9-0 for a reason,” said Rawlings. “24 (Burrow) ran hard, quarterback made plays. Hopefully, we’ll see them in the playoffs.”
Friday’s victory puts Bel Air in position for the No. 1 seed in the Class 3A North Region playoffs. The Bobcats will be no worse than the No. 2 seed and will host their first playoff game since 2004 next Friday evening.
“We’re super confident, but we got to stay at it,” said Trzeciak. “We just have to keep doing what we do.”
NO. 15 BEL AIR 28, EDGEWOOD 27 (4 OTs)
Edgewood 7 0 0 8 0 6 0 6 - 27
Bel Air 8 0 0 7 0 6 0 7 - 28
First quarter
Edgewood - Caesar Travers 10 run (Carson Crouse kick)
Bel Air - Mason Ferrell 23 pass from Jay Perez (Tavon Anderson run)
Fourth quarter
Bel Air - Nehemiah Ramsey 21 run (Devin Trzeciak kick)
Edgewood - Isaiah Megginson 10 run (Megginson run)
Second overtime
Edgewood - Megginson 1 run (run failed)
Bel Air - Ramsey 10 run (kick failed)
Fourth overtime
Edgewood - Isaiah Martin 3 pass from Travers (pass failed)
Bel Air - Nate Furrow 1 run (Trzeciak kick)
