With just 7:28 remaining in the game and the BlueJackets owning momentum and a a two possession lead, things did not look at all promising for our guys on this night.  The offense wasn’t clicking and we couldn’t seem to figure out the Nicholas County defense.  It was at that time that I slipped a piece of paper with the word “JUMBO?” on it to my broadcast partner Mike Schack,. Coach Paul Wiggins and I were thinking alike.  Enter Tyler Holtz, and much as in the Pineville game a week ago, it was like we flipped a switch.  Big Mo climbed into a Mustangs uniform and a few minutes later we were heading home  with a 28-22 win.  In those final minutes we put 15 unanswered points on the board to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.  A flea-flicker pass and catch between Cam Mandel, the passer, and Keegan Gulley, the receiver, and we cut the lead to 22-19.  Two minutes later Landon Geyer took flight and rambled 37 yard for the Game-Winner.  A late game safety accounted for the final score.

Early on Nicholas County drew first blood on a Oscar Salcedo 3 yard run, and Alex Koeder 2-Point conversion.  The Jackets led 8-0 after 12 minutes of play.  Our guys went up 10-8 at the half on the merits of a 37 yard Tyler Smith Field Goal and a Keegan Gulley to Tim Kitt aerial for a touchdown, and Smith PAT.

The third quarter. saw us expand our lead as Tyler Smith tied his own school record (unofficially), hitting a 48 yard Field Goal, his second of the night, making it 13-8 Mustangs after three periods.  An earlier game 47 yard Field Goal attempt hit the upright.  On the night Smith would hit two Field Goals, and a pair of PATs.

Nicholas County retook the lead at the 4:35 mark in the third quarter when Colby Gray finished off a 60 yard drive with a 3 yard scoring run.  The two point conversion attempt was no good.  The fourth quarter started with the home team scoring on a 3 yard run by Gray, and a 2-point conversion by Alex Koeder.  The Jackets and their fans were fired up and it didn’t seem like we had an answer.  It was at that point that Tyler Holtz and the Jumbo Package arrived on the scene to rain on the Jackets victory celebration.  A 27 yard flea-flicker from Cam Mandel to Keegan Gulley, and later a 37 yard Landon Geyer touchdown run  followed by a late-game safety accounted for our comeback and margin of victory.  This is our third consecutive climatic finish victory in Carlisle.

As a side note, the Nicholas County player injured last night was Senior Carter Fryman.  He has had a tough go of it the past few seasons.  After being their leading rusher and scorer as a sophomore in 2021 with 872 yards and 10 touchdowns, he missed his entire Junior season due to a broken neck as the result of a Four-Wheeler accident, and missed the second game of this season with knee issues.  While hoping for the best for him, it didn’t look good last night.