WATERLOO - Bryce Noland made a 35-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give Columbus Catholic a 16-13 lead. Then, apparently, he didn't make it. The whole stadium was confused, most of all the officials.
Noland's field goal attempt had the distance but apparently drifted left before it went through the uprights. The right-side goalpost official signaled the kick was good. The left-side official signaled it was wide left.
While the Columbus Catholic coaching staff was sorting that out, they were informed that Union Community roughed Noland on the try, giving the Sailors new life.
Columbus Catholic cashed in on the next play, with quarterback Amani Robinson finding Owen Hosch in the front corner of the endzone for the go-ahead touchdown with 15.5 seconds remaining.
"I knew we had to go down and execute," Robinson said. "We had a play dialed up for Owen (Hosch), an out rout, a deep out rout. I just trusted the throw and trusted him to be in the right spot."
Fifteen seconds later, after Noland intercepted Union Community's Hail Mary pass on the final play of the game, Columbus Catholic had secured a 20-13 victory. It's the Sailors first home win in two years.
"I'm at a loss for words," Columbus Catholic coach Brad Schmit said. "Every play mattered tonight. Our kids never flinched. I could not be more proud of these guys. They way they stayed the course. They battled through the up. They battled through the downs. Those guys delivered in the most critical moment."
The Sailors were clutch when it mattered
Columbus Catholic went 3 for 4 on fourth-down plays, including two conversions on the game-winning drive.
On the seventh play of the final drive quarterback Amani Robinson ran for nine yards on a 4th and 5 play. Four plays later he rushed for two yards on a 4th and 1 to keep the drive going.
An earlier fourth-down conversion led to Columbus Catholic's second score of the game. Facing a 4th and 6 at the 23-yard line in the first quarter, Schmit called for a pass play to Hosch. Robinson’s throw was perfect and Hosch wrestled the ball away from the defender in the endzone to put Columbus Catholic up 13-6 in the second quarter.
"Last week I didn't play how I wanted to," Hosch said. "I came back to practice this week. I worked. I knew I was going to have a bounce-back week this week. Converting on those touchdowns, on those big plays, it felt amazing."
Sorensen scores twice on a quiet night
Union Community's dynamic quarterback Caden Sorensen accounted for both touchdowns but was largely held in check.
Coming into the game, Sorensen had scored 17 touchdowns in six outings and accounted for 1,199 yards of total offense.
He showed off his skills late in the first quarter after Columbus Catholic had taken a 6-0 lead. The Knights kick return unit set the team up with excellent field position at their own 48-yard line. Garrett Kaalberg had a one-yard run on first down. On second down, Sorensen found an opening and broke off a 51-yard touchdown run to tie the score at 6-6.
Sorensen scored Union Community’s other touchdown on a 2-yard run that tied the score at 13-all with 6:53 left in the game.
For the game he rushed 14 times for 23 yards and two touchdowns. He was also intercepted twice passing.
"Columbus did a really good job of making plays when they needed to," Union Community coach Jared Pospisil said. "Obviously, the penalty at the end didn't help us any. I tip my hat to coach over there. They did a great job."
Postseason implications
A Sailors program that advanced to the state semifinal in the UNI-Dome in 2023 slumped to 1-7-1 last season. Then, Columbus Catholic started off 0-2 this season, losing to ranked teams Beckman Catholic and Grundy Center by a combined score of 90-13.
Now 4-3 overall and 3-1 in district play, the Sailors control their own destiny. A home win over Aplington-Parkersburg would guarantee a trip to the postseason.
For Union Community (5-2), the water is a little murkier. The Knights are 2-2 in the district, tied with Hudson, Aplington-Parkersburg and Jesup. Four teams in each district make the postseason, and five teams are vying for those four spots. The Knights play winless Sumner-Fredericksburg next Friday.