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Pirates rally to topple Henley By KRIS HENRY PHOENIX - Even listed at a generous 5-foot-9, 150 pounds, Phoenix sophomore Martin Gonzalez was probably the smallest player on the field at Jack Woodward Stadium on Friday night. And yet, he was also the biggest. Thrusting himself into the spotlight, Gonzalez hauled in two touchdown passes and made two TD-saving plays to help the Pirates upset ninth-ranked Henley, 14-12. "He just saved us," said first-year Phoenix coach Gordie Crowston. "Martin came of age tonight. He's been sneaky-good all year, but those plays he made just won us the game." It also didn't hurt that the Pirates did yeomanlike work on defense, making a night where Henley's Kirk Cunningham rushed 21 times for 181 yards and two TDs look like a defensive gem, if that's possible. "They have a lot of heart on their team," said Cunningham. "They wanted it more than us, I think." With the win, Phoenix improved to 4-3 overall and moved into a second-place tie with Henley (4-3) at 3-1 in Skyline Conference play. Cunningham could have had three scores on the night if it weren't for Gonzalez. Hoping to cut into Phoenix's 8-6 lead heading into halftime, the senior running back took a short pass from Frank Gauntz, cut back against the pursuit and had nothing but end zone in his sights. Sixty-one yards later, however, Cunningham learned what can happen when someone doesn't give up on a play. "I knew he was behind me," Cunningham said of Gonzalez. "I was just running as hard as I can, but the guy was quick and he caught me. He played hard to the end." Fired up by Gonzalez's touchdown-saving effort at the 6, the Pirates allowed only 2 more yards and Gauntz was short on a 21-yard field goal attempt with a minute to play before halftime. For his part, Gonzalez said he simply was doing his job. "I just went all out to try and save the victory for the team," he said. "I just came out of nowhere on him, I think." As if his first-half efforts weren't enough - it was Gonzalez who hauled in a 9-yard TD pass from Ross Ellis to help put Phoenix ahead 8-0 - the slight sophomore added more to the highlight reel over the final two quarters. His deflection of a deep pass up the middle from backup QB James Myers, replacing an injured Gauntz, halted one Henley drive. Gonzalez almost stuck another thorn in Cunningham's side on a 34-yard scoring scamper, meeting Cunningham just a hair too late as his tackle at the goal line sent Cunningham reeling just inside the pylon. The Pirates were able to stave off a two-point conversion attempt with 5:24 to play but found themselves in the hole for the first time at 12-8. With a sense that they had played too well for too long to lose, the Pirates fired up their engines and went for a drive. A 65-yard trek to be exact, powered by bullish runs from Eric Kessler and a floating prayer by Ellis that was answered by Gonzalez. "We were really due to make a drive," said Crowston. "Ross maintained his composure and got the job done." On the fateful scoring play, Phoenix faced a third-and-eight at Henley's 38. The Pirates called a timeout to find the perfect play, and it immediately broke up as the Hornets flushed Ellis out of the pocket. Scrambling right, Ellis still had the presence of mind to hurl a pass toward where his target was supposed to be. Once again, Gonzalez didn't let his teammates down. The ball sailed just over the outstretched arms of two Hornets and into the waiting arms of Gonzalez, who turned and made one step into the end zone for the game-winner with 2:04 to play. "That last play was crazy," said Gonzalez. "I'm only a sophomore, so I wasn't sure what we would do or if the ball would come to me. But when I saw the ball up in the air I just felt like it was my duty to catch the ball and win the game for us." Adding to the excitement, Cody Marsing pulled off a perfectly executed onside kick when he rocketed a shot that hit Henley lineman Scott Wilson squarely on the foot and bounded backwards for an easy scoop recovery by Marsing. "We've been trying to do that all year, and it finally happened at the best opportunity," said Crowston. "I just couldn't believe it. We hadn't hit anybody all year, and when it happened, we all looked around in disbelief." Behind Kessler, who finished with 84 yards on 23 carries, the Pirates were able to run out the clock. Behind Gonzalez, the Pirates were also able to take a huge step toward a potential playoff berth - and maybe even more. "Henley represents what we're trying to build here," said Crowston. "Class, fundamental football, playing hard every play. That's what Henley does, and to be able to beat a program like that in your first year, it means almost too much for words." Henley..............................................0 6 0 6 - 12 Phoenix............................................0 8 0 6 - 14 P - Gonzalez 9 pass from Ellis (Lockheed run) H - Cunningham 28 run (run failed) H - Cunningham 34 run (pass failed) P - Gonzalez 38 pass from Ellis (run failed) Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.