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@@@ WILMETTE 鈥⒙燜our minutes into the third quarter, it looked as if Edwardsville was on its way to upsetting one of the best teams in the state.But Loyola, the Class 8A runner-up last season, proved to be tough to put away as the Ramblers erased a 21-point deficit in the final 17 minutes to earn a 29-28 win in overtime."I really don't know what happened," said sophomore defensive end A.J. Epenesa, who put the Tigers up 14-0 with his 43-yard interception return for a touchdown midway through the first quarter. "Everybody did their job, and we all gave it our best shot."We had a great start, and everything went our way in the first half."The Tigers, who are No. 3 in the Associated Press Class 8A rankings, led the top-ranked Ramblers (2-0) 21-0 at intermission. They then started the third quarter by intercepting their sixth pass of the game on Loyola's first series.聽Like it did at times in the <a href=http://www.symbiose.ca/images/christianlouboutin.gwij.php>Christian Louboutin Outlet</a> first two quarters, Edwardsville (1-1) couldn't take advantage of the turnover. Unlike the first half, the Ramblers made the Tigers pay for it.聽With junior backup quarterback Emmett Clifford replacing starting senior DJ Melsheimer, Loyola scored on three of its first four possessions of the second half. Clifford provided the tying touchdown on a 6-yard run with 3 minutes, 35 seconds remaining in regulation.聽"It was the worst half of football we've ever played," Loyola coach John Holecek said. "Our offense was pretty bad, but our defense kept us in the game."After the Tigers scored on their first series of OT on senior Dan Marinko's 5-yard pass to senior receiver Isaiah Michl, Clifford answered with a touchdown pass on fourth-and-5. The Ramblers elected to run a fake on the PAT, and senior holder Aidan Walsh connected with senior linebacker Brian O'Brien for the game-winning, two-point conversion.聽"We're getting closer to where we want to be," Edwardsville coach Matt Martin said. "We're knocking on the door."Six players had interceptions for Edwardsville, including two by junior safety Jourdyn Jones, but the Tigers only managed 21 points off of eight total takeaways. They also struggled <a href=http://www.alportico.net/prodotti/christianlouboutin-sale.jkmsw.php>Christian Louboutin Heels</a> to run the ball, especially in the second half, totaling 35 yards on 20 attempts."This game was about turnovers and capitalizing on those turnovers," said Martin, whose team committed two turnovers in the second half, neither of which led to points. "They adjusted well defensively in the second half, and we didn't run the ball up the middle well."Edwardsville is hoping to be the first team from outside the Chicago area since 1991 to win the big-school state title. East St. Louis finished first in Class 6A that season."We will use this as a learning experience and grow from it," Martin said. "You <a href=http://www.symbiose.ca/images/christianlouboutin.gwij.php>Christian Louboutin Sale</a> don't have to go undefeated to win a state championship. If we are mature and learn from this, we can get better."Waterloo 27, Columbia 24 (OT)聽鈥⒙燫ick Wiegand scored on a 10-yard run in overtime to lead the Bulldogs to a key road win.Wiegand scored all four touchdowns for Waterloo including a pair of short runs late in the first half to give his team a 21-14 lead.Columbia tied the game on a 38-yard scoring toss from Jacob Hill to Lou Isringhaus in the third period.The Eagles took a 24-21 lead in overtime on a 27-yard field goal by Greg Long.Orchard Farm 49, Liberty 6聽鈥⒙燗rmand Keely ran for 163 yards and three scores to lead the Eagles to a win at home.Keeley scored on runs of 44, 40, 21 in a 2 minute 24 second-span in the first quarter to stake his team to 21-0 lead.Tyler Westerfeld ran for two touchdowns and 98 yards for the winners. He also kicked seven extra points.Orchard Farm led 35-6 at half.
