Junior kicker Austin Wroblewski’s 23-yard field goal with time expired on the clock lifted Wayland to a 10-7 “Thrilla in Midvilla” victory Friday evening.

The Wildcats twice in the fourth quarter drove deep into Middleville Thornapple Kellogg territory and came away empty the first time after failing to convert on a fourth-and-one at the 7-yard line. The resurgent defense held the Trojans on three plays and Devin Jakey returned their punt about 20 yards to the 31 with just 2:41 to play.

The Wildcats went to work again, with Eric Villareal and Jake Omness coming up with a couple of key running gains and Middleville opened the door with a personal foul penalty with 20 seconds remaining.

With the ball placed on the 6-yard line, coach Mike Doupe took no chances, letting the clock wind down to 0:02 before calling time out to bring in the field goal unit, which crucially includes Wroblewski and holder Carter Morse.

The Trojans tried to ice the ‘Cats’ junior kicker by calling another timeout, but when play resumed, the snap from center was near perfect, the hold by Morse was more than adequate and the football sailed through the uprights, leaving no doubt of the outcome.

The outcome was a lot different than what fans saw in the first half, with Thornapple Kellogg enjoying a 7-0 advantage.

Wayland’s offense sputtered badly, recording only one first down on a 17-yard pass from quarterback Kyle Jansen to Lee Misak that put the pigskin on Middleville’s 27-yard line. No matter, the ‘Cats gave the ball back on downs.

Wayland’s offense was so unproductive that kick returner Jakey had picked up more yardage in two kickoff returns than the rest of the ballclub combined.

Middleville scored its only touchdown on its second possession, moving the ball smartly down the field with a combination of running and passing, covering 61 yards in seven plays. The Trojans were helped by surprisingly shoddy tackling by Wildcat defenders who let quarterback Gabe Kruisenga and backs Kyler Podbevsek and Matt Lark break too many tackles.

Podbevsek scored the touchdown from five yards out with the game less than eight minutes old. But that was to be the only time the Trojans dented the scoreboard.

Though the defense suffered through nasty lapses that cost dearly, linebacker Mason Miller sacked four Middleville runners in their own backfield and Chad Stoepker made it tough going from tackle to tackle.

Few may know what kind of pep talk Doupe gave his legions at halftime after an admittedly pathetic offensive performance against a team that given up 50 points in losing to Byron Center the week before.

However, Jakey took the second half kickoff to the TK 42. Jansen came up with a clutch keeper run to the 29 for a first down after a third and three, Villareal had a nine-yard run, Jansen got another first down at the 12, Villareal had yet another nine-yarder and Jansen went into the end zone from three yards out. Wroblewski’s kick tied the score.

Middleville was called for a 15-yard penalty on Jansen’s TD run, so Wroblewski was able to get a special kick when his 45-yard kickoff split the uprights for a non-field goal.

But that seemed to set the tone for the remainder of the contest. A sluggish Wayland defense became brutal, keeping its opponent deep in its own territory and not threatening to score six the entire half. It was the one-two punch of Stoepker and Miller with a supporting cast of Logan Bishop, Brody Place and giant Ethan Mutschler that kept the Trojans in check.

On the offensive side, the Wildcats discovered a lot of success with QB Jansen taking the shotgun snap, hesitating, picking his way and following his blockers for decent, though not spectacular gains.

The thrilla verdict moved Wayland’s overall record to 2-1. But the ‘Cats will be at home this Friday to take on Wyoming in their second O-K Gold Conference encounter.

PHOTO: QB Kyle Jansen (3) hands off the football to Eric Villareal, who specialized in nine-yard gains for the game. (Photo courtesy of Kenny Ritz)