DPOSTM comes from behind, wins Kamin Cup as always

It all looked bleak.

DPOSTM had another drive stall in enemy territory and to make matters worse, the Weenies had an Executive Editor connection for a touchdown – junior quarterback Matt Mantica to senior has-been Taylor Culliver.

Down 28-7, it seemed as if Sports would finally see its winning streak in the historic Kamin Cup come to an unsatisfying thud against a strong News squad.

But when things looked their darkest, one man, a knight in shining armor (or a Ben Roethlisberger jersey), took charge and led DPOSTM from the grips of defeat.

All in all, junior quarterback Riley Darrel Steele provided the heroics, throwing for seven touchdowns and running for another to lead DPOSTM to a thrilling 63-56 comeback victory over the Weenies. The win marks Sports’ ninth straight victory in the annual rivalry.

After the entire News squad showed up late to the game, DPOSTM graciously handed a few freshman to help fill the Weenies’ roster. And on the first play of the game, it paid dividends for the News squad.

A long touchdown pass from senior captain Will Marble found the hands of former DPOSTM-ite Jacob Adler, culminating in a 40-yard touchdown. The shocking start caught DPOSTM off guard.

“I tip my hat off to Adler,” DPOSTM junior running back Steven Tydings said. “I was dozing off, checking my phone, and next thing I know, we’re down 7-0.”

The Sports side struggled to find consistency from its stable of quarterbacks, switching between Sports Editors Holden McGinnis, Ian Wenik, Colin Henderson and Tydings. While McGinnis found the endzone in the first half, the other three couldn’t do much to help the DPOSTM cause.

“I was truly embarrassed to be on a field with these ‘athletes,’” Sports wide receiver-elect Laine Higgins said. “As a Division I athlete, I don’t know how I can even play on the same field as them.”

A QB controversy came to a head when Wenik threw behind a receiver and was intercepted by junior News editor Harry Cooperman, who brought the pick back for a touchdown.

“It doesn’t matter where I throw the ball,” Wenik quipped. “What matters is my plan.”

All of this set the stage for Steele to take over at QB. A touchdown on his first drive set the tone for his performance, but Steele did throw an interception in the endzone to Mantica just before halftime to send DPOSTM into the break down 28-14.

“Everything starts with me, but we just weren’t tough enough,” Steele said. “We just weren’t ready. We didn’t have that poise about us to compete at the Frank, let alone at the collegiate level.”

Thanks to two first half touchdowns from rowing star Sam Altland, Sports only entered the half down two scores.

And the squad immediately got it together after the break.

Steele was nearly flawless in the second half, finding receivers with relative ease despite steady snowfall hurting visibility and causing many drops.

A trio of young receivers made a big difference for DPOSTM, as sophomores Titus Adkins and Corey Henry teamed up with freshman Tommy Rothman to carve apart a weak News zone. While Henry drew attention over the top, Adkins and Rothman found themselves open early and often in slot.

“The meme game was strong out there,” Rothman said. “I felt like a young J.R. Smith out there, except I declined to use my Instagram mid-game.”

While Altland was less involved in the offensive gameplan in the second half, the sophomore receiver did have an incredible highlight reel catch after halftime. Although the weather limited DPOSTM's ability to throw deep all game, Steele lofted a beautiful pass to Altland, who laid out and reeled the pass in for a 20-yard pickup.

Other than that, DPOSTM used a string of short passes to make a steady comeback, a strategy termed “small-bites” by annoying coach Tydings. As Tydings yapped off near the line of scrimmage, his teammates merely rolled their eyes while actually doing the work to lead the team back.

A series of touchdowns by Wenik and Henry brought Sports to within striking distance. After scores by Culliver and Will Agathis, the latter of whom was masquerading as a News receiver, DPOSTM saw itself down just one touchdown, setting the stage for the play of the game.

Down 49-42, Steele dropped back to pass and found 2013 Kamin Cup MVP John Phillips open on the left side. Phillips, who was just ten yards away from the endzone, avoided a nearby tackler and lateralled back to Steele, who dove and found paydirt for the tying score.

“Wow,” Phillips exclaimed. “That was like a delicious burrito with no beans in it.”

Sports would move ahead late with a deep touchdown pass from Steele to Henry. But thanks to the dual-quarterback system of Mantica and Marble, known to many as M&M, the News squad tied it on a touchdown to pizza editor-elect Carter Coudriet.

With the field only booked until 2 p.m., DPOSTM had to act quickly to salvage a victory. Steele found Adkins down the middle to get to the eight-yard line. From there, Steele avoided a would-be sack from outgoing business manager Gianni Mascioli and hit Tydings in the middle of the field.

No one bothered to guard the uselessly out-of-shape Tydings, so the junior found the endzone, scoring the game-winning touchdown for the second consecutive Kamin Cup.

"I noticed there was a hole in the middle of the defense as I rolled out right," Steele said. "So I figured, why not throw across my body like any gunslinger would?

"There was a blank space and you could say I wrote Steven's name."

While the game was not over, Tydings and Henderson prematurely celebrated while News lined up for its next play.

But Henderson would make up for his early jubilation on the final play of the game.

Mantica rolled right and tried to find an open receiver, but after a tip, Henderson swooped in and caught the game-ending interception.

“It’s ya boy C-Hend,” Tydings said. “Once I saw him get to the ball, I knew that we were ou’chea.”

“It was a truly tope moment,” Henderson added.

Henry would pick up the ball afterwards, running it in for a disputed final score. Regardless, DPOSTM won once again, as Steele took home MVP honors.

“Steele is one of the finest players I’ve ever lined up beside,” Phillips said. “I tip my hat to him.”

On the losing side, Culliver and company seemed plenty disappointed despite the spirited challenge to the dominant Sports squad.

“I’ve tried to foster training, culture and accountability in the last year,” he said. “It simply hasn’t worked out and I need to take responsibility for that. #13Done.”

Mantica, who tweeted before the game that “the end is nigh” for DPOSTM, was humbled in defeat, saying he was sick of the losing.

“Ultimately, the players are going to play … and the haters are going to hate,” Coudriet said. “News just needs to shake it off.”

But until next year, there will remain a blank space in the blue room. The Kamin Cup – like pine tar, a random Rubik’s Cube and a plethora of cooks – remains with DPOSTM, as it should.

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