Similar to the words of the legendary writer Charles Dickens, it was best of times and the worst of times for the Independence football team.
Heading into a week where the Patriots were looking to win their way into the Class AA semifinals for the fourth year in a row, the unthinkable happened.
Jennifer Phalin, mother of current players Landon Phalin and Levi Phalin, as well former player Logan Phalin suddenly passed away early in the week.
A beloved member of the school and a team mom, naturally the whole community was shaken to the core.
Saturday afternoon, the Patriots strapped on the helmets and carried the emotions to the field to win one for Jennifer.
And win they did.
Exploding for 21 points in the final minutes of the first half, No. 3 Independence walked away from No. 6 Philip Barbour, 49-17.
Independence moves into the semifinal round and will travel to No. 2 Roane County at a date and time to be determined.
“There was a lot of emotion early in the game and both teams were playing very, very hard like they should. Two top teams in the state playing against each other,” Independence head coach John H. Lilly said. “They took it to us early and we rebounded. I am really proud of our kids for rebounding off of that.”
For nearly the first 20 minutes of the contest, the visiting Colts stymied the Patriots, building a 10-0 lead.
With seven minutes to play the before the half, the Independence defense flipped the game in its favor and the Patriots never looked back.
Sacks by Tyson McGinnis and Dylan Ritchie put Philip Barbour behind the sticks and forced a punt. The boot was shanked giving the ball to home team just 38 yards from the goal line.
Seven straight totes from Sylas Nelson was capped by a 3-yard touchdown run by the junior standout, trimming the lead to just three points.
“I think it was just a lot of momentum. Once we got the momentum with that score, we knew we were back in the game,” Lilly said. “Then our defense just turned it up a little bit.”
The defense stood tall once again on the next Colts possession when pressure from Isaiah Conley led to a sack from Landon Riddle.
Following a punt, Independence was back in the end zone three plays later when Nelson ran 16 yards almost untouched for a score.
The key play on the drive was a 57-yard strike from Brock Green to Christian Linksweiler. After two early interceptions, Green responded with a big throw at a crucial time in the game.
“I think we showed how much confidence we have in Brock. He threw the two (interceptions), but we just kept chucking them,” Lilly said. “I think he is going to be a great player. He showed a lot tonight to do what he did as a freshman. It shows a lot about who he is and what kind of player he is. Linksweiler made some great catches too. I am real proud of our offensive line. We were out-manned a little bit size-wise, but we just put it together.”
Smelling blood in the water, the Patriots defense forced another punt which was blocked by Riddle, giving Independence the ball at the Colts 30-yard line.
“We got in our way there in the first half. We had some penalties that didn’t need to be happening. Mental errors that led to physical mistakes. Errant throws and we weren’t lining up right offensively or defensively,” Philip Barbour head coach Nic Mayle said. “Once that dam busted, Independence is a great team and they have been here before and farther than here, so they know what to do. They took the momentum and never gave it back.”
With the Barbour County visitors reeling, Green launched his second strike to Linksweiler who made another circus catch at the 1-yard line. One play later, Green snuck it in for a 21-10 halftime lead.
“We were definitely trying to stop the run. (Linksweiler), you can’t guard him any better. He made a heck of a catch. He made two,” Mayle said. “I don’t know how he did it. He was looking back over his head backwards and did a scorpion and somehow caught it. It was just a great play. He did a great job.”
Seeing Linksweiler one-on-one made Green’s eyes light up when he stepped under center.
“I had a lot of confidence in Christian before the game and I knew he would catch it,” Green said. “It makes my heart happy when I see him out there by himself.”
Independence carried the momentum into the third quarter and put the game away.
Another blocked kick lead to a three-yard touchdown run by Nelson before Green hit Riddle on a 25-yard strike on the next possession for a 35-10 lead.
“We knew they had that one big run on us there in the first quarter, but they hadn’t earned very many yards on us. We just needed to step up and play. I think in the first quarter we came out with a little bit of emotions for sure,” Riddle said. “We knew they were a big line and we had to beat them with our speed. We had to beat them to the gap and be gap sound this week. Last week against James Monroe, we were getting out of our gaps and they were putting big gains on us.”
Once the Patriots took the lead, Philip Barbour was in the type of game that it did not want.
“We definitely want to run the ball and when you get behind a couple of scores and behind the sticks, you have to come out of your element,” Mayle said. “Hats off to their defensive game plan. They stuffed the tar out of the middle. They were bringing pressure from the back side and getting to our running back. They are a disciplined team and they have athletes all over the field.”
Not to be lost in the emotions of the night was the kindness shown by the Philip Barbour community which has suffered through some tough times as well.
“They are a class act. Their school, their community and their football team raised a lot of money for the Phalin family and brought us a check down here,” Lilly said. “As many battles and wars and fights and scrapes as we have had this year, I don’t think we have had anyone do such a kind act. They deserve a lot of kudos. I believe their day will come. When you give like that, somewhere down the line, you will get it back.”
PB: 3 7 7 0 – 17
I: 0 21 14 14 – 49
First quarter
PB: Ahmi Shipley 21 FG
Second quarter
PB: Cameron Bennett 15 pass from Robbie Jones (Shipley kick)
I: Nelson 3 run (Micah Cuthbert kick)
I: Nelson 16 run (Cuthbert kick)
I: Brock Green 1 run (Cuthbert kick)
Third quarter
I: Nelson 3 run (Cuthbert kick)
I: Landon Riddle 25 pass from Green (Cuthbert kick)
PB: Bennet 13 pass from Jones (Shipley kick)
Fourth quarter
I: Green 1 run (Cuthbert kick)
I: Cole Laxton 32 fum rec (Cuthbert kick)
Stats:
Rushing: (PB) Logan Beam 17-40, Tyler Vance 3-68, Jones 10-(-26), Bennett 4-(-12); (I) Nelson 26-142-3, Green 2-2-2, Tyler Linksweiler 2-25, Jacob Grimmett 3-(-7), Tyson McGinnis 5-13.
Passing: (PB) Jones 4-11-0-67-2, Bennett 1-1-0-(-5); (I) Green 8-14-2-171-1
Receiving: (PB) Bennett 3-67-2, Vance 1-5, Beam 1-(-5): (I) Linksweiler 3-123, Dalton Adkins 2-19, Nelson 2-4, Riddle 1-25-1
