CORNING — Taylor O’Dea’s two interceptions proved to be the difference here on Friday, as Interstate 35 held on for a 27-22 win over Southwest Valley on an unseasonably warm and foggy night.
Both of the interceptions came at opportune times, at the close of each half after Southwest Valley had snatched momentum away from the Roadrunners.
Leading 27-22 late in the game, Interstate 35 failed to convert on a fourth-and-12 from the Southwest Valley 23-yard line, handing the ball to the Timberwolves with 2:08 left with a chance to march down the field for the win.
On the third play of Southwest Valley’s drive, a missed exchange on a handoff resulted in a fumble, and a loss of 4 yards, bringing up fourth-and-7 with 1:20 left in the game.
Freshman quarterback Chance Cobb threw downfield to senior Colten Drake, but the pass fell incomplete after Drake collided with an Interstate 35 defender. The Timberwolves got new life, though, when pass interference was called on the Roadrunners.
Cobb connected with Grant Maurer for 19 yards on first down, but over the course of the next three plays, the Timberwolves lost 5 yards, bringing up fourth-and-15.
Drake came up with a big catch on the fourth down play, picking up 25 yards on a deep drag route across the middle.
On second down from the 20-yard line, Cobb threw a ball to the goal line, giving Drake a chance to go up and haul it in.
But the ball was tipped and came down in the hands of O’Dea at the 2-yard line with :14 left, sealing the victory for the Roadrunners.
Halftime lead
Interstate 35 took a 20-14 lead into the halftime break, thanks to O’Dea’s first interception of the game.
After Southwest Valley erased a 14-0 deficit on a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs by Gunnar McCuen, the Timberwolves got the ball back late in the half with a chance to go in front.
But Cobb’s pass to McCuen was picked off by O’Dea and returned 50 yards for a backbreaking touchdown, with 1:30 remaining in the half.
The Roadrunners kept momentum on their side early in the second half, when Jaylan White scored a 7-yard touchdown run with 7:00 left in the third quarter.
Interstate 35 started the game with momentum on its side, as the Roadrunners built a 14-0 lead.
Cole Daniels scored from 15 yards out on a pitch around the left side to put the Roadrunners on the board with 6:30 to go in the first quarter.
Then, a 58-yard completion from White to Zach Goering set up a 15-yard touchdown connection from White to Goering two plays later, giving Interstate 35 the 14-0 lead with :38 left in the first quarter.
White finished the game with 91 rushing yards and passed for more than 91 yards. Goering had three catches for 79 yards. Cole Daniels added two catches for 33 yards and Daniel Kennedy had two receptions for 34 yards.
Defensively, Evan McKinney had two sacks for the Roadrunners, while Blake Kozak and Kennedy each recorded 5.5 total tackles.
The win improved Interstate 35 to 2-7 for the season and 1-5 in Class 1A District 8 play. Southwest Valley finished the season 1-8 and 0-6.