Olympia hopes to build off fight displayed in Week Two win

LAKE BUTLER Of all the things that pleased second-year Olympia coach Kyle Hayes from his team’s come-from-behind victory over East River Sept. 2, the resiliency his players showed after going down a score in the fourth quarter was at the top of the list.

“Our kids fight to the end — they could have easily went into the tank when we were down,” Hayes said.

Some of the big plays that followed East River’s go-ahead touchdown midway through the fourth also were encouraging signs for the Titans (1-1). There was the long touchdown pass from Joe Milton to Jordan Underwood on a broken play to bring Olympia within a point of the Falcons; the ensuing two-point conversion trick play where backup quarterback Jake Clarkson came in to throw a jump ball pass to the 6-foot-7 Milton to put the Titans ahead; or any number of big stops from the Olympia defense, led by brothers James and Josh Green.

Either way, the end result was a 20-13 victory in a bounce-back effort after a disappointing showing in Week One.

“Those plays definitely changed the game — that’s what football is all about,” Hayes said. “When you get two teams that are battling out. … At the end, you’ve got to pull something out of your hat.”

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].