Perhaps last Friday’s game between Apalachee High School and Starr’s Mill could be best summed up in two words: playoff football.
The two teams played one that will not likely be soon forgotten as it took two overtime periods to decide a winner. When it was finally over, the AHS Wildcats had emerged with the hardest of hard-fought victories at 27-24 and all associated with the home team were no doubt thankful they would be moving on to play another week.
However, when it comes to the playoffs that is simply the name of the game.
“It was intense,” said Wildcat head coach Shane Davis, who now has two postseason victories during his time at AHS. “We got through it although we didn’t play our best game.”
Davis said Starr’s Mill, while a No. 4 seed, was a formidable opponent.
“They came out of a subdivided region and ended up fourth on some tiebreakers,” the AHS coach said.
The visiting Panthers forced overtime after a late 46-yard touchdown pass and successful 2-point attempt with 3:04 left.
Starr’s Mill had a final chance to win the game in regulation after an interception with 1:01 remaining. The Wildcat defense, held, however as a final pass attempt into the endzone just missed.
In the first overtime, Jon Lee scored on an 11-yard run on Apalachee’s third offensive play. Guy Hunt’s point after kick gave the Wildcats a brief 7-point lead.
Starr’s Mill answered scoring a touchdown on five plays. The Panthers elected to go for the tie and converted their extra-point kick.
In the second overtime, Starr’s Mill took possession first and was forced into a fourth and four situation. A 26-yard field goal attempt failed and AHS took over,
After seeing his team run two plays to the Panther 12, Davis sent Hunt in for a possible game-winning field goal try from 30 yards out. The first-year kicker was true, as he has been all season, and the victory celebration was on.
“This is a big win for us,” Wildcat Tony Hoard said. “It is such a great feeling to win it like this and be able to keep playing. I look forward to going back to practice next week.”
Senior receiver Zack Gentry described the game as “nerve racking.”
“Still, you can’t beat this feeling,” Gentry said. “There’s nothing like it.”
Gentry is the holder for AHS and he said he was thinking “just don’t bobble the snap” as the Wildcats prepared for the possible game-winning kick.
Starr’s Mill took the game’s opening possession before missing a 26-yard field goal. Linebacker Jeff Haney registered a big tackle on the drive for AHS.
The Wildcats then marched 80 yards capped by a 15-yard run by Lee with 7:28 left in the first quarter. AHS needed just five plays to move that distance.
The visiting Panthers regrouped and pulled to within 7-6 after a 1-yard run on second and goal. The point after attempt was blocked, however. The Starr’s Mill scoring drive took 17plays and covered 90 yards
.
The Wildcats fell behind 9-7 after a field goal with 3:29 left in the first half. It appeared AHS would regain the lead as it marched down the field gaining a first and goal at the six after a pass from Mike Norman to Gentry.
However, a fumble was recovered by the Panthers to stop the drive with just 18 seconds left before halftime.
Once the third quarter began, it didn’t take AHS long to regain the lead. Lee raced to the 4-yard line on the first play of the second half and then Christian Hoard powered in from the 2-yard line following a Starr’s Mill penalty.
The score remained 14-9 until Hunt connected on a 44-yard field goal with 6:55 left in the game. Those points would prove to be huge as Starr’s Mill would eventually score another touchdown.
Friday’s contest was the fourth this season that either went to the final moments or was decided late. Davis said having had three close games earlier could have been an advantage for his team.
“I don’t think the earlier close games hurt,” the coach said. “We believe we can find a way to win. We believe something good will happen for us eventually.”
Winning the close playoff game was not lost on the AHS players.
“This is amazing,” said lineman Shaun Hill. “We pulled the win out when we needed to.”
“It was a crazy game,” fellow lineman Javier Crawford said. “Starr’s Mill is a good team.”
