In a defensive battle all night long, Beresford came up with the biggest stop of all.

The Watchdogs thwarted Aberdeen Roncalli’s two-point attempt on the final play of the game to secure a 7-6 overtime victory in the Class 11B football playoffs Thursday night at Swisher Field.

After the two teams failed to score in regulation, Beresford scored a touchdown on a quarterback keeper by Tate VanOtterloo and kicked a PAT on its possession in the extra session. The Cavaliers also scored a touchdown on a run by quarterback Jackson Isakson and then decided to go for the win. However, the visitors kept Roncalli out of the end zone for the victory.

“It was a great defensive battle by both teams,” said Roncalli coach Billy Young. “We felt like we needed to go for two. We had guys who were cramping and we had substitutes all over the place. I don’t know if we could have withstood another series or not, so we had to try to put it away right then.”

After Isakson scored on a run up the middle to close the deficit to within a point, the Cavaliers went to their quarterback again for the PAT, but this time Beresford was ready.

“I really didn’t think they would throw,” said Beresford coach Scott Ebert. “I just had a gut feeling that they would just try to bring their quarterback on power, because that’s how they had scored the previous play and we didn’t have an answer for that all night. So we just kind of quick jumped into a goal-line set there defensively and it was the right deal at the time.”

Young said he would trust his junior signal-caller every time in that situation.

“He was probably within six inches of the goal line. He’s a warrior,” Young said. “If I had to pick one or two guys on our  team, he’d be one of those two guys we’d want the ball in his hands to try and win the game.”

The game was full of defensive highlights as neither team was able to mount much of a threat on offense. Roncalli had just one possession inside the red zone and had the best chances to score, missing one field-goal attempt and missing out on another attempt on a bobbled snap. Beresford had two passes reach the Roncalli end zone in the closing seconds but came away empty.

“It was just two good teams,” Ebert said. “Nobody wanted to lose. Neither offense could really ever get any momentum.”

Last week in a win over Mount Vernon-Plankinton, Beresford threw for nearly 400 yards. However, they had just 71 yards through the air against Roncalli.

“They put six in the box, (that’s) why we couldn’t run,” Ebert said. “They brought pressure off the edge. We just couldn’t generate anything. They did a lot of movement up front which caused us fits.”

In the end, it was the Watchdogs who ended up moving on and celebrating the dramatic victory and ending Roncalli’s season.

“It’s something I haven’t fully grapsed yet, still kind of bringing it all in,” said Roncalli senior Matthew Martinez. “At the end of the game there we were going for the win. We were moving the ball well. I guess it just didn’t work out.”

The finish marked the second straight week that Beresford won a road playoff contest on the final play of the game. Last week the Watchdogs scored on a long pass play to defeat MVP. They will try to continue their road exploits again next week in the semifinals.

“We just kind of keep on this crazy Cinderella ride, I don’t know what else to call it,” Ebert said. “We’re the 14^th seed and we’re not supposed to be here, yet, but we’re in the final four. Right now the yellow bus is our friend.”

Roncalli concluded its season at 7-3, including its first trip to the quarterfinals since 2016.

The Cavaliers do return most of their squad for next year.

“We’re excited about the future,” Young said. “Obviously, it’s hard to see these seniors go. I’ve been with them since seventh grade. It’s really tough to watch them go, but as far as guys coming back we’re excited about our future.”

One of those seniors is Martinez. When asked what he will remember most about his playing days with Roncalli, he responded, “Just the tradition behind it. All these parents, they always come out. They’ve been supporting it for years. It’s just something I love. It’s really a good thing to be a part of. It means a lot to me.”

Beresford (7-3) 0 0 0 0 7 – 7

Aberdeen Roncalli (7-3) 0 0 0 6 – 6

Overtime

B – Tate VanOtterloo 3 run (Isaiah Richards kick).

AR – Jackson Isakson 10 run (run failed).

OFFENSE: Beresford rushing 30-121 (Peyton Fridrich 21-95, VanOtterloo 7-31), passing 3-14-2 for 71 (VanOtterloo 3-14-2 for 71), receiving (Jake Goblirsch 1-39, Richards 2-32), 9 first downs ; Aberdeen Roncalli 45-148 (Maddox May 16-83, Isakson 15-36, Andrew Brennan 9-36, Ben Rohl 1-2), passing 3-13-0 for 31 (Isakson 3-13-0 for 31), receiving (Brennan 2-19, Matthew Martinez 1-12), first downs 13.

DEFENSE: Beresford, Josh Lawrence 10 tackles including one sack, Jaxson Tadlock 8 tackles including one sack, Fridrich 9 tackles, Landon Schurch 7 tackles; Aberdeen Roncalli, Abe Kretchman 10 tackles, Brenden Livermont 8 tackles, Matthew Martinez 6 tackles and 1 interception.