Wolverines knock off McCall 27-21 with last second touchdown

 The game was tied 21-21 with five seconds left on the clock at Roy Dickerson Memorial Field in Weiser Friday night.

 Senior quarterback Kolin Cook had just thrown an incomplete pass on third and 10 from the Vandal 29-yard line. 

 The Wolverines had previously notched three first downs in what would be their last series of the game, seniors Luke Sarich, Weston Black, Kash Cobb and junior Cole Ingle picking up chunks of yardage on the ground as the offense moved well into Vandal territory.

 Time was running out, however, and Cook had to switch to an air attack. Weiser was suddenly faced with one last chance to end the game in regulation with about five seconds remaining.

 Cook took the snap and stepped back to the 32-yard line where he launched the ball to his right. Senior receiver Xander Gray had about four steps on the nearest defender and everyone present seemed to hold their breath as they watched the ball spiral through the air.

 Gray, who had left the game with an apparent serious injury in the season opener against Buhl, brought fans to their feet in jubilation as he hauled in the pass from inside the endzone with no time left on the clock, stunning the Vandals.

 Fans jumped to their feet as teammates swarmed the field.

 After the game, Cook told the Signal American that he knew where he wanted to throw the ball.

 “I had an idea,” he said as he celebrated the last-second victory with coaches and teammates. 

 He said he went into the final play hoping Gray could get open. Cook even asked him what route he wanted to run.

 “I think he was, like, ‘What route you got?’” Gray told the Signal American. “I said ‘Wheel.’”

 A wheel route, as explained by legionreport.com, is a play where the receiver is perceived by the defense to be going on a short passing route. The receiver plays out the route, but then changes course downfield, usually surprising the defender, which is often a slower linebacker, creating distance between the receiver and the defender.

 Gray, who chose the winning route, explained how he got open.

 “I noticed they were playing inside because one of our guys was going up the seam,” he said. “So, for the wheel, I saw that I was wide open and prayed for the ball.”

 Cook attributed the victory to Gray and the rest of the team.

 “He works hard,” he said of Gray. “We all work hard and the offensive line blocked phenomenal on that last play. Everybody did their jobs and [Xander] happened to be open, and I got the ball to him.”

 Head coach Tom Harrison said he was impressed with his team’s perseverance and tenacity.

 “It was another great game, one for the ages,” he said. “We knew we had to go to the endzone and that last play turned out to be a nice one.”

 McCall went into Friday’s game undefeated at 4-0.

 “They’ve been playing for this game for a long time,” Harrison said of the Vandals, adding that his defense still needs improvement.

 “We’ve got to get better,” he told the Signal American. “We’ve been dealing with injuries and moving people around and just having a hard time getting solidified with personnel. But we are moving on and the next one is really important for us.”

 Weiser faces off against league rival Homedale at home on Friday, Oct 4. Game time is 7 p.m. Homedale is 5-0 overall, its most recent victory a 59-7 win over Payette.