By JON REITER
CLARKSVILLE - Providence senior Jacob Golembeski walked back to the locker room, drenched in mud and still feeling the effects of a flu bug that he had been battling all week.
“I feel terrible,” Golembeski, a senior said. “The doctor gave me some stuff that’s helped.
“The win makes it a lot better.”
Golembeski, who was suffering from the flu all week, sealed the Pioneers 21-14 win over Triton Central when he intercepted a pass by Tiger quarterback Luke Stephenson end zone that could have tied the game late in the fourth quarter.
He also contributed 12 carries for 59 yards and converted a screen pass from Anthony Denis on 3rd and 10 with less than 2 minutes left in the contest for a 29-yard gain that allowed the Pioneers to take two knees and secure the win.
“He’s a tough kid and you need kids like him this time of year,” Providence (6-4) coach Gene Sartini said. “It was a great win for us.”
Nontheless, there were a few anxious moments at Murphy Stadium Friday night. The Pioneers, who travel to No. 2 Paoli Friday, struck early after Denis found Ryan Dixon for a 37-yard touchdown pass with 8:04 left in the first quarter. The Pioneers led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Dixon found the end zone again during the second quarter, returning an interception 55 yards for another touchdown to give the Pioneers a 14-0 lead at halftime.
On the Pioneers’ third play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Spencer Corrao scampered through the Tiger defense for a 45-yard touchdown run, and Betz’s extra-point gave Providence what seemed to be a comfortable 21-0 lead with 9:51 left in the third quarter.
That’s when Stephenson, who only completed one pass in the first half, began doing his best John Elway impersonation.
On the Tigers’ (6-4) first play following the kickoff, his pass in the flat to Sean Wendling went for a 77-yard score.
Providence’s next drive didn’t materialize, and the Triton offense dominated on its next possession, marching 83 yards on 17 plays over the next 7 1/2 minutes to find the end zone. Stephenson’s touchdown pass to Dilon Daniel from 14 yards out capped the Tiger drive, and following the extra-point Triton trailed 21-14.
Providence went three-and-out on its next drive, and the Tigers drove deep into Pioneer territory once again before Golembeski’s interception came with 5:31 left in the game and brought Providence out to the 25.
Denis completed 3-of-3 passes for 53 yards to kill the clock, with third-down completions going to Tyler Ferree (12 yards), Dixon (12 yards) and Golembeski.
Providence withstood the aerial assault from Stephenson, who completed 13 of 21 passes in the second-half alone for 213 yards.
“They were a good team and a tough team,” Sartini said. “They really threw the ball around on us, but we were able to hold them off and get the win.”
PROVIDENCE 7 7 7 0—21
TRITON CENTRAL 0 0 7 7—14
First Quarter
P - Dixon 37 pass from Denis (Betz kick), 8:04.
Second Quarter
P - Dixon 55 yard interception return (Betz kick), 2:38
Third Quarter
P - Corrao 45 run (Betz kick), 9:01
T - Wendling 77 pass from Stephenson (Sullivan kick), 8:35.
Fourth Quarter
T - Daniel 14 pass from Stephenson (Sullivan kick), 10:49.
