2013 OIL BOWL: Kelly Walsh Knocks Off Natrona County In Overtime

The 2013 Oil Bowl was thought to be a blow-out even before the weather rolled in and forced the game to be postponed until Saturday afternoon.  But the fans in the stands at Cheney Alumni stadium were treated to an excellent ball game that went in to overtime.

Kirk Durtsche made his first start at QB for Kelly Walsh as they faced off against cross town rivals Natrona County.  A high snap with the Trojans backed up against their own end zone would result in a fumble and an easy touchdown and lead for the Mustangs with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter of play.

In the second quarter the Trojans strung several big plays together to march down the field and answer the TD they had given up to the Mustangs.  Austin Sullins would get a good push from the KW offensive line and rumble in from 4 yards out to tie the game up with 1:20 remaining in the first half.

Tied at 7 all at half time, it would be NC who would score first in the 3rd quarter of play when Stevann Brown marched up the middle to score on an 8 yd TD run.

On the very next possession, NC would make a costly mistake as QB Sam Turner had a pass tipped by the Trojan secondary and intercepted by Turner Hiatt who returned the ball to the NC 2 yd line.

Two plays later KW QB Kirk Durtsche dove in from one yard out to even the game at 14 points a piece.  When time ran out on the fourth quarter, both teams were knotted at 14-14 and the Mustangs found themselves headed to their third straight overtime game at home.

NC got the first possession in overtime and needed only 2 plays to punch it into the end zone as QB Sam Turner would score on a 1 yard dive to put the Mustangs on top in overtime.  The extra point attempt, where NC has struggled in overtime previously, would be wide left and the Mustangs had placed themselves into another predicament as the Trojans took their turn with the ball in OT.

After a sack of QB Durtsche on first down for a loss of 8 yards, it looked like NC would be able to finally win one in OT.  But, Durtsche with a 3rd and goal from the 18 yd line threw a jump ball over the middle to Clay Carlson who out leaped the NC defense and caught the ball at the one and fell across the goal line to tie the game at 20 to 20 with the PAT still to come.

Both stands were on their feet as Trojan kicker Kenny Harrold knocked the PAT through the uprights and the KW players and fans poured onto the field - victorious in OT over their cross town rivals.

The 2013 Oil Bowl victory and the traveling trophy went home with the Kelly Walsh Trojans who improve to 3-3 on the season as they Natrona County Mustangs drop to 3-3 with all 3 losses coming at home and all in overtime.

Final score KW 21 - NC 20 (OT)