Apex edges past rival Cary in OT for a Homecoming victory

Hailey Loftin
Staff Writer
            
Cary was winning 34-31 in overtime. Grayson Boyd was injured at a crucial point in the game. Sophomore backup quarterback Duke Fruehauf ran onto the field as cheers of “Duke! Duke! Duke!” came from the Cougar Crazies. One play was all the team needed to win homecoming, and one play is all it took for Fruehauf to complete a pass to Ian Boyd and win the game. It was a homecoming ending that no one will forget.


            Cary came out strong in the first half, quickly intercepting a pass and getting up 17-0 on the Cougars. By halftime, Apex had cut the Imps’ lead to six points. Senior runningback Isaiah Totten said that the thing that changed for him was his mindset. “I just thought, ‘We’re not going to lose to Cary.’” The second half and overtime progressed with the lead changing six times. The Imps held Apex to third down and forced a field goal. Nathan Davis kicked it in from the thirty-five-yard line with less than seven seconds left in the game to tie it.
            High school overtime is set up a little differently than it is in college or the NFL. In high school football, the teams get the ball on the ten-yard line and have four downs to score a touchdown. They do have the option to kick a field goal on fourth down in overtime, which Cary used to pull ahead of the Cougars 34-31. Two plays later, Grayson Boyd had to leave the game with severe leg cramps.
            The entire stadium was on edge and nervous as Fruehauf took his place on the field for a big third down play. The completed pass to Boyd sent the Cougar Crazies, the football team, and all the parents into a huge celebration. The stands went wild with cheers, hugging, and glitter while the team ran to the endzone to congratulate Fruehauf and Boyd.
            Totten says the momentum the team gained from the win against Cary will help them against Holly Springs High School on Friday night. For him, games against the Imps have usually been close, especially the game in 2013 when he was a sophomore. “We were expecting a good game, but we also were expecting it to be easy like last year.” The pressure of homecoming and a huge crowd was a big deal for the team too. Especially for the seniors, losing homecoming to Cary would be a blow.
            The Cougars take on the Holly Springs Golden Hawks on Friday, September 22, 2015. Holly Springs and Apex both have a 3-2 record this season. The Cougars will have to defeat the Golden Hawks at their homecoming in heavy rain and winds. A win against Holly Springs will significantly boost the Cougars’ chances of making the playoffs.

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