Staff photo / R. Michael Semple Chaney's Sidney Davis (15) celebrates with his teammtes after recovering an East fumble in the end zone for a touchdown during the third quarter of Saturday's game at Rayen Stadium.

YOUNGSTOWN – The ball flew through the air with just over two minutes left to play, and Dewayne Thompson got underneath and intercepted the pass at the 1-yard line.

Thompson’s interception clinched Chaney’s 10-6 win over rival East in the final City Series game on Saturday at Rayen Stadium.

“Make a play, just make a play,” Thompson said of his mindset prior to the interception. “Just make a play to seal the game so we can leave here happy and not sad.”

Thompson was a playmaker offensively as well for the Cowboys (4-5). He finished with 73 yards on 20 carries, and he caught four passes for 32 yards to eclipse 100 yards of total offense.

Neither team found the end zone in the first half. Chaney had a couple of chances, but holding penalties negated two potential touchdowns in the second quarter.

Chaney kicker Eder Gomez finally put the first points on the board with a 39-yard field goal as time expired on the half.

The Cowboys’ 3-0 lead didn’t last long, however.

Chaney received the opening kickoff to start the second half. But the first snap of the series went over the head of quarterback Asuante Mickel, and the Golden Bears (6-4) recovered.

East running back Tyris Davis found some open space and carried the ball down to the Chaney 4-yard line. After an unsuccessful quarterback sneak, the Golden Bears called the play again, and Jaden Erving pushed his way into the end zone for the game’s only offensive touchdown.

A bad snap by East forced Erving to recover and fall down on the two-point attempt, keeping the score 6-3 East.

But East’s snapping issues came back to bite the Bears. The ball was sent high and over Erving’s head and into the end zone. Chaney’s Sidney Davis fell on it for a fumble recovery for a touchdown. A Gomez extra point gave the Cowboys a 10-6 lead.

“When you get two teams with that type of talent out there, nobody wants to make a mistake,” East coach Mark Greene said. “They know a mistake could be crucial, and it was with a fumbled punt, and I think they had a fumble as well. It was going back and forth, but 16 total points and we’re used to scoring three to four times per game. They’re used to scoring three, four times per game. The defense definitely played a role. Hats off to both our D-coordinators.”

The Golden Bears got to within striking distance of a touchdown with one timeout remaining. Erving went deep, attempting to connect with Davis, who was in one-on-one coverage. But that’s when Thompson came over to help from his safety position, getting the interception to give the ball back to the Cowboys.

“(Thompson’s) grown so much as a player and a person the last few years,” Chaney head coach Seth Antram said. “This game was special for him, because it’s what he’s gonna be remembered by. His dad’s a Chaney graduate, went on to play at YSU — he’s a football guy.”

Chaney picked up a first down and forced the Golden Bears to use their final timeout. Mickel took a couple knees to put the finishing touches on the victory.

“That was a hard-fought game by two teams that both have a lot of heart. … Score, we ended up on top, but it could’ve gone either way,” Antram said. “Both teams battled for four quarters.”

Chaney’s win not only sent its senior class off with a historic win before the two teams merge next academic year, it also brought an end to the Golden Bears’ season. East needed to win to clinch the 12th and final spot in the Division III, Region 9, tournament next week.

“I’m not displeased. The turnovers killed us a few times, a couple penalties” Greene said. “But I believe they still played hard, played with emotion, and I can’t ask for nothing else.”

As soon as the final whistle blew, that emotion came to the surface. Some players, especially the seniors, had some tears. Meanwhile, some players from both teams joked around after the handshake line.

Jeremey Batchelor, superintendent of Youngstown City School District, had some words for everyone in attendance after the game. He wanted to pass along a message about the future of the football program once the two schools merge next fall.

The two sides faced off as rivals, but by the end of the game, the focus shifted to what they could be as teammates once they get back in the weightroom in the offseason.

“It feels good, just to put them away, put them to the side … put East to the side, put Chaney to the side, and just unify as one,” Thompson said. “It feels good just to win it.”