POTW: Ryan Schroeder

Published 9:13 pm Tuesday, November 3, 2009

The last hope for Demopolis representation in the championship round of the West Alabama Youth Football League was the city’s senior group. And, after taking an early 8-0, that hope began to look bleak in the fourth quarter.

A questionable pass interference call and a phantom facemask penalty helped Greensboro sustain a drive that ultimately turned into six.

When the Raiders 12U squad looked to tie the game on a two-point conversion attempt, it was safety Ryan Schroeder who ranged to his left and snatched the pass out of the air, preserving the Demopolis lead.

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However, the offense would stall out on the ensuing drive, giving Greensboro another chance to wrest the game away from the Tigers.

The Raiders were unquestionably effective on the drive, pushing the ball deep into Demopolis territory. After a “no mouthpiece” call on fourth down sustained Greensboro’s drive with just over a minute to go, everything was rushing downhill for the Tigers.

With 28 seconds to go, Greensboro’s quarterback fired downfield, toward his sideline. As the ball hung in the air, it appeared Demopolis’ championship hopes would fall with it.

That’s when Schroeder opted to do an encore performance of his previous crowd pleaser. Schroeder broke to his left again. He leapt into the air. And, pressed against his own nine-yard-line, “Clutch” pulled down the interception and the game, ensuring Demopolis its chance to play for the league championship.