By Timothy Wester Jr.
Correspondent
In most games, East Troy High School’s football team assuming a 1-point lead with 28 seconds left would mean a sure victory.
But when the opposing team has Jackson Enz, you don’t take anything for granted. Trojan quarterback Jake Dessart took that lesson to heart, turning his back on the field for the final 28 seconds as Big Foot’s standout quarterback went to work.
Dessart eventually heard the roar from the home crowd as Enz’s final pass at the Trojans 25-yard-line sailed out of bounds to give East Troy a 48-47 victory in a Rock Valley Conference gridiron classic.
Although Enz finished the game with seven touchdowns and 451 total yards, it was Dessart’s 4-yard touchdown run and gritty 2-point conversion run that propelled East Troy (2-0) to a heart-stopping, marathon win.
“That was probably one of the hardest fought football games I’ve ever played, but it was a team win,” said Dessart, who had four touchdowns and 325 total yards. “I had to turn around and look away when Jackson had the ball last. He is one heck of a player and athlete.”
Enz was indeed spectacular, with four rushing and three passing touchdowns. He also returned kickoffs and punts and played defense – all while battling leg cramps.
“It was a herculean performance,” said Big Foot coach Greg Enz, who is also Jackson’s father. “He wills this team and coaches told me we wouldn’t have won more than two games last year without him. I’m starting to realize why he drew so much interest from division 1 colleges.”
Despite Enz’s efforts, the Trojans physical running attack proved to win out over the big play Chiefs’ offense. East Troy racked up 445 rushing yards on 65 carries to wear down the Big Foot defense late in the game. Dessart was the biggest benefactor, leading his team on an 80-yard scoring drive capped by his 4-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 47-46 with 33 seconds left.
On the ensuing kickoff, Enz returned the ball to near midfield with 28.9 seconds left. Then the Trojans appeared to have Chiefs stopped with an interception, but a too many men on the field penalty gave the Chiefs one last play at the 25.
Enz then turned and scrambled left and heaved a pass towards the right corner of the end zone toward an open Greco. But the ball sailed just a few feet wide of Aidan Greco and fell incomplete out of bounds.
“Jackson blames himself for losing the game because of that final pass, but there were so many plays in this game that factor into the final score,” Enz said. “Sometimes it says more about a person’s character when they are willing to say I should have accomplished that.”
Both teams showed moments of great character in the game. The Chiefs jumped out to a 27-14 second quarter lead before the Trojans scored 29 unanswered to take a 33-27 lead in the second half.
Enz, however, responded with three fourth quarter touchdowns, including a brilliant 27-yard run to put his team up 47-40 with under 4 minutes.
But it wasn’t enough to stop the Trojans who would not be defeated on the night.
The Chiefs will host Clinton tonight. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
