BOMBERS SURVIVE IN OVERTIME AGAINST HERALDS
Photo Credit: Mahoning Valley Sports
Geneva, OH- In a hard-fought contest that went down to the wire, the Saint John Heralds battled valiantly but came up short in overtime, falling 32-26 to the unbeaten Windham Bombers. The back-and-forth affair featured multiple lead changes, big plays, and clutch performances from both teams, with Windham’s Jack Eye delivering the decisive blow in overtime to keep the Bombers’ perfect record intact.
The action started quickly, with Windham’s standout running back, Jack Eye, powering in a 1-yard touchdown just 9:50 into the first quarter. The Heralds defense stood tall on the 2-point conversion, keeping the score at 6-0. Saint John responded late in the first quarter as senior running back Ryan Williams bulldozed his way for a 1-yard touchdown at the 2:56 mark, tying the game at 6-6 after their own failed 2-point try.
Windham’s Eye struck again, showing off his game-breaking speed with a 74-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter. But, once more, the conversion failed, and Windham led 12-6. Not to be outdone, Williams continued to carry the Heralds offense, punching in another touchdown from 3 yards out with 6:02 remaining in the half. The game remained tied at 12 after the missed conversion.
As the clock wound down in the second quarter, the Heralds put together a methodical drive, capped off by a 1-yard quarterback sneak from Vin Narducci with just one second left in the half. This time, Will Anderson powered in the 2-point conversion, giving Saint John a 20-12 lead going into halftime.
Windham came out firing in the third quarter, with Jack Eye once again burning the defense on a 75-yard touchdown run. Carlos Bruton’s successful 2-point conversion tied the game at 20, setting up a tense second half. The game stayed deadlocked until Windham’s defense made a game-changing play, intercepting a pass and returning it 4 yards for a touchdown with 4:40 left in the fourth quarter. The Bombers failed the 2-point conversion, but now led 26-20.
With their backs against the wall, the Heralds needed a spark. They found it in the form of Narducci, who launched a 74-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Chase Newsome with just 2:12 left to play. The 2-point try to take the lead failed, leaving the score tied at 26-26 as the game headed into overtime.
In the extra period, Windham’s defense held strong, stopping the Heralds on the 4-yard line. On the ensuing possession, Jack Eye put the game away with a 1-yard touchdown run, his fourth of the night, sealing the Bombers’ 32-26 victory.
The loss drops Saint John to 1-5 (0-2 NAC) as they prepare to face the Fairport Skippers (3-3, 1-1 NAC) in week 8. Windham, now 7-0 (2-0 NAC), will look to continue their unbeaten streak against the Vanlue Wildcats (0-6) next week.
Despite the result, Ryan Williams and Vin Narducci had standout performances for the Heralds, while Jack Eye’s explosive running led the way for Windham.