Sacred Heart loses heartbreaker to Iota in fourth OT

There can be only one word to describe Sacred Heart’s quadruple overtime 30-22 loss to Iota on Friday night: heartbreaking.
Sacred Heart tied the game up 14-14 on an eight yard touchdown pass from Sam Tuminaro to Seth Shipp.
However, an unsportsmanlike penalty after the score backed the ball up 15 yards and created an extra point attempt from 35 yards out for Alec Gotro.
Gotro’s kick careened off of the right upright and fell to the ground, putting the game into overtime.
Both squads battled in the extra frames, with Iota outlasting the Trojans in the fourth and final overtime to seal the win.
“I told the players after the game, what we preach everyday are hard work, discipline, teamwork and family,” said Sacred Heart head coach Josh Harper. “And what we showed tonight was the heart and hard work but not the discipline. That’s what got us tonight.”
“A few turnovers, penalties, not getting the play in on time all led to us not coming out on top,” Harper continued. “But, I also said that those are things we can fix. They gave a great effort and that is all we can ask as coaches.”
Iota took control of the game early in the first quarter. After a three yard loss on the first play of the game, Bulldog running back Kaleb Guillory took the handoff on the very next play and raced 67 yards up the middle for the first touchdown of the night.
Tony Zelaya added the extra point and with 10:59 left in the first quarter, Iota had a 7-0 lead.
Sacred Heart’s first score did not come on offense, but rather on special teams. A series of penalties, miscues and some great defense from the Trojans put Iota back inside their ten yard line.
On fourth down, Zelaya dropped backed to punt in his own end zone. The snap was over Zelaya’s head and rolled past the end line for the safety. With that, the Trojans were now down 7-2 at the 2:40 mark of the first quarter.
Sacred Heart took possession again at their 18 yard line with 9:03 left in the half. On the sixth play of the drive,
Tuminaro hit Daniel Scully for a 50 yard pass, bringing the ball inside the Bulldog 15. Unfortunately for the Trojans, Iota intercepted an errant pass and took over possession of the ball.
On the ensuing Bulldog possession Sacred Heart pounced on a Bulldog fumble at the Iota 26 yard line.
Three plays later, Wesley Launey threw a perfect sweep pass to Julien Vidrine for a 31 yard touchdown with 2:39 left in the half.
The extra point was no good, however, the Trojans took the 8-7 lead into the locker room.
Iota’s final score in regulation came when Guillory scored on a 17 pass from Trae Rambin. Zalaya was true on the extra point and with 6:22 left the Bulldogs held the 14-8 lead.
When Shipp hauled in the touchdown pass from Tuminaro to tie the game, no one in the crowd expected what was to come. In the first two extra periods, neither squad could get the ball across the goal line.
Sacred Heart took over possession to start the third overtime. A ten yard pass from Tuminaro to Scully on the third play gave the Trojans the 20-14 lead.
Having to go for the two point conversion, Tuminaro found Shipp in the end zone for two-point pass and Sacred Heart was up 22-14.
Iota got their chance to tie things up again. Guillory plunged over the left side for the score and Rambin hit Cade Covalt for the two-point conversion to tie the game once again at 22-22.
The Bulldogs got the ball first to start the fourth overtime. This time Rambin hit Bliss Deshazo for the nine yard touchdown pitch and catch.
Rambin then threw to Frey for the two-point try and Iota now held the 30-22 lead.
Sacred Heart took over possession, but a bad snap over Tuminaro’s head on first down, put the ball at the forty yard line.
The Trojans tried three more times to score, but failed in their effort to tie the game and send it to a fifth overtime.
Leading rusher for Sacred Heart was Garrick Fontenot with 33 yards on 28 carries.
Tuminaro was four of 15 passing for 113 yards and two touchdowns.
Scully led all receivers with two catches for 60 yards and a touchdown.