Goshen junior varsity football head coach Tony Ogleclark had to took a step back from the celebration to soak up what he had just witnessed.

Ogleclark’s Eagles rallied back to score a touchdown with just 17.6 seconds to go in the ball game to knock off the McKenzie Tigers 9-8, and put the seal on a perfect 6-0 season for Goshen.

The Eagles drove over 60 yards on the final drive of the game, which was capped off by a five-yard touchdown run by Zach Alford on a jet sweep.

Ogleclark beamed from ear-to-ear talking about the performance of his players late in the ball game.

“I told the guys before the game that this game would be our biggest challenge,” said Ogleclark. “We fought hard all night, and had some guys step up and make some big plays late. But it was a team effort that got us here, and it was a team effort that pulled it out in the end.”

The teams traded punts in the first quarter and for the majority of the second, before the Eagles were able to maintain a drive late in the half.

The Eagles drove the ball inside the Tiger 10, and elected to attempt a field. Kicker Toler Richburg snuck the kick inside the right upright to give Goshen the Early lead, and what turned out to be crucial points.

Ogleclark singled out Richburg following the game.

“Toler was our key player tonight,” said Ogleclark. “Without that kick there late in the second, that last drive wouldn’t have meant anything, and this game wouldn’t have turned out the way it did. He knocked it through like we knew he could.”

McKenzie scored late in the third quarter on a 10-yard scramble by quarterback William Brown. The touchdown gave the Tigers an 8-3 lead, which Ogleclark said made him a little nervous.

“We gave up a couple of big plays to them in the third quarter,” said Ogleclark. “While I was a little nervous, the kids never dropped their head. This a great group of coachable young men.”

The win brought the season to an end for the Goshen JV team, and Ogleclark’s first year on the job as head coach.

While the season may be in the past, Ogleclark sees bright futures for the group of players, and for the whole Goshen football program.

“They listen and understand what you want them to do,” said Ogleclark. “If we can make progress in the weight room and on the field, this group can go as far as they want. This little group of guys can build on what we already have going for us.”