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Haven hands Trinity first loss behind three scores from Roper
Gallagher Martin
gmartin@hutchnews.com
HAVEN — Haven High School quarterback Darby Roper has been outstanding all year long. And although Friday's performance against Hutchinson Trinity was not his best statistical game, it may have been his most impressive.
Against undefeated Trinity, Roper rushed for all three Haven touchdowns and had the game-winning interception late in the fourth quarter to lead the Wildcats to a 20-18 victory over the Celtics.
Haven co-head coach Drew Thalmann calls Roper a rare player, and that assessment is clear to anyone who watches him play.
"He bails us out of a lot of unfortunate situations, and he's a kid that I absolutely love," Thalmann said.
Trinity hadn't been tested since a 26-20 Week 1 victory against Inman. Although the Celtics were handed their first loss of the season, a game like Friday night will only help Trinity down the road, according to head coach Jordan Bell.
"We need these types of games, and we knew we were going to get it tonight against Haven," Bell said. "It's only going to make us better in the playoffs because these are the type of games you have to win. I like the heart and determination of my guys, and next time we get a game like this we'll come out victorious."
The Trinity defense had allowed a combined seven points the last four weeks, but the Haven offense put 14 on the board halfway through the first quarter.
Roper showcased his speed with a 42-yard touchdown run less than four minutes into the game.
Trinity's first drive resulted in a three-and-out that featured two sacks. Trinity fumbled the ball away to Haven on its next drive, and the Haven offense turned it into points when Roper scored from 7 yards out.
With 4:02 remaining in the first quarter, Haven led 14-0.
"Going down 14-0, our team last year probably would have folded and it would have been a route from there," Bell said. "But our football team is built with heart and determination this year."
Trinity cut into the Haven lead midway in the second when Walt Gray scored from a yard out to make it a 14-7 game.
With seven seconds left in the half, Trinity quarterback Lucas Hammeke threw a ball into the end zone that fell incomplete. Time had expired, but a roughing the passer call on Haven gave Trinity one untimed down.
Hammeke, who also serves as the team's kicker, made the Wildcats pay by booting a 31-yard field goal through the uprights to make it a 14-10 Haven lead at halftime.
The score remained the same for much of the third.
After an impressive goal-line stand from the Haven defense, the Wildcats - who committed 11 penalties for 105 yards — gave up a safety when holding was called in the end zone.
Including the roughing the passer call that resulted in a field goal, Haven penalties directly resulted in five of Trinity's 18 points.
"We asked our guys to play with emotion, and they played with emotion," Thalmann said. "We need to work on playing with emotion a little smarter than that."
The Celtics roared back from down 14 points when Hammeke lofted a one-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Bergmeier on 3rd and goal to give Trinity an 18-14 lead.
Haven put an an end to Trinity's 18-0 run when Roper rushed for a 14-yard score with 3:40 remaining.
Trinity had one final chance to win the game, but Roper came up with the game-winning interception with 1:51 left.
Nathan Schmidt, who rushed 34 times for 161 yards, ran the clock out from there.
"This season is something we've been looking forward to for a long time, and it's a shame we can't celebrate it with our community," Thalmann said.
Trinity can still win Class 2A District 5 with a win against Hillsboro next Friday. Hillsboro is 5-2 overall and 4-0 within the district.
"To take the lead in the fourth quarter against a very talented Haven team. . . I'm super proud of my guys," Bell said. "Our goals are still intact. We'll learn from our mistakes tomorrow and move on.
"We have a chance to win a district championship next Friday night."
Haven cannot win the district, but if the Wildcats beat Sterling and Hillsboro beats Trinity, Haven will finish second in the district and will host a playoff game.
"The No. 2 seed would get us our first home playoff game since I think 1993," Thalmann said. "It would mean a lot."
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