Ron Greeson

Sports Editor

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

GREENVILLE - “It was a tale of two halves, and we didn’t play four quarters of football,” said a dejected T. J. Powers after Thursday night’s varsity football game at Harmon Field.

“But this one stings, there’s no debating that,” he added.

The result was a 19-13 victory for visiting University School of Hunting Valley, but the decision really came from the first 16 minutes of the game.

The Preppers from the Cleveland area led 13-0 early in the second quarter, and actually had the ball deep in Green Wave territory, and were poised to maybe blow the game open.

But the Division III team turned the ball over, and Greenville earned its initial first down of the game, and started the long road back.

The Green Wave would tie the game early in the fourth quarter, but never led.

And it wasn’t tied for long.

Zachary Melling’s five yard run with 9:30 to play had cut the lead to 13-12, then Kevin Leland booted the extra point to tie the score at 13.

All the momentum seemed on the Wave’s side, and all the team needed was to get the ball back.

But only a minute and 17 seconds later, wide receiver standout Justin Chappell was running across the goal line after a 65-yard pass and run for his third score of the night.

Chappell, a college Division I prospect, caught seven passes for 146 yards, and all three University touchdowns.

But then a second straight missed extra point kick left the score at 19-13, with plenty of time for Greenville to score again, and with an extra point kick, win the game in regulation.

But another long drive into University territory resulted in a lost fumble at the Prepper 22-yard line.

Still, an interception of US quarterback Dan Frate gave the Wave one more chance, at the University 49-yard line with 2:20 on the clock.

But on a third successive run by Melling, a holding penalty was whistled on the Wave, moving the ball back to the Prepper 47-yard line.

Then, with 1:18 on the clock, a pass from freshman quarterback Jacob Burk for Chris Lockhart was intercepted deep in US territory, the die was cast.

With only one timeout, US ran out the clock, and had the win that dampens hopes of a Greenville playoff berth in Region 6 of Division II. The Wave is now 5-2 on the year, while University won a second game in a row move to 3-4.

The result presented a sour ending to another memorable night for the senior running Melling. He was a workhorse all night, carrying the pigskin 43 times for 197 yards, and scoring the lone touchdown of the night for Greenville.

But late in the second quarter drive that resulted in the first of two Leland field goals, he first tied, then set a new career rushing record for Greenville varsity football. The single season mark is well within range, with three more regular season games.

“Zach just had a terrific game, but the result is so disappointing, Powers said. “We dominated on both sides of the ball in the second half, but we didn’t do it in the first half, and it cost us.

“We just have to go back to work, win the last three games, and get a playoff berth. That goal is still within reach, we just have to beat Jay County.”

The Indiana school visits Harmon Field next Friday with a special start time of 7:00 p.m. on Senior Night for Green Wave football.

Greenville-Univ. School Football Game Summary:

Univ. School 7 6 0 6 - 19

Greenville 0 3 3 7 - 16

First Quarter

US - Justin Chappell, two-yard pass from Dan Frate, Will Clements kick, :48.

Second Quarter

US - Chappell, 22-yard pass from Frate, kick wide, 9:17.

G - Kevin Leland, 33-yard field goal, :00.

Third Quarter

G - Leland, 24-yard field goal, 4:36.

Fourth Quarter

G - Zachary Melling, five-yard run, Leland kick, 9:30.

US - Chappell, 65-yard pass from Frate, kick blocked, 8:13.