ANTWERP – The Antwerp defense stopped Patrick Henry receiver Ryan Kurtz at the one yard line on the final play and the Antwerp Archers held on for a 14-7 win over the Patriots in Division VII playoff football Saturday evening October 30, 2021 at Archer Field.
Antwerp’s win is its first home playoff victory since a 21-17 win over Ayersville in 2000.
Reid Lichty put the blue and white on the scoreboard on the game’s opening drive, capping a ten-play scoring drive with a seven-yard touchdown run.
The Archers scored again on their next possession, driving 65-yards in 15-plays when quarterback Carson Altimus connected with Jagger Landers on a six-yard scoring strike to make it 14-0 Antwerp.
Patrick Henry responded to start the second half, driving 72 yards in nine plays to dent the scoreboard.
Nash Meyer capped the drive with a nine-yard touchdown run to get the Patriots within 14-7.
However, neither team would score from there.
The Patriots threatened to pull closer, putting together a drive that went deep into Antwerp territory before the Archers’ Kaden Recker picked off a Meyer pass in the end zone to keep the Archers on top with 2:51 left in regulation.
On the game’s final drive with 2.2 seconds on the clock, Meyer hooked up with Kurtz across the middle of the field before the Archer defense stopped the Patriot wide receiver at the one-yard line to seal the Antwerp victory.
Jagger Landers hauled in seven passes for 62 yards for Antwerp with Altimus completing 16 of 31 passes for 141 yards. The Archer signal caller also ran 20 times for 74 yards with Lichty posting 58 yards on a dozen carries. Kaden Recker hauled in four passes for 49 yards for the blue and white as well.
Antwerp finished the night with 274 yards of offense compared to Patrick Henry’s 228, limiting the Patriots to 96 rushing yards.
The victory sends the Archers to Williams County Saturday night in a rematch at Edon as Antwerp looks to show improvement from a 41-26 week two loss to the Bombers.
