As it turns out, there would be no postseason appearance for either Apalachee High School or Loganville High School.
However, the two football teams put on a display Friday night at R. Harold Harrison Stadium which would have made one think the playoffs — or even more — were on the line.
In the end, the visiting Red Devils escaped with a 45-42 victory as quarterback Garrett Ford, showing a remarkable resemblance to Tim Tebow, fought in on an eight-yard run with three seconds left. That score capped a wild display of offense which had both teams scoring almost at will, especially in the second half.
AHS did not punt the entire game, scoring on each of its possessions. After a somewhat slow start by scoring just seven points in the first half, the LHS offense began clicking on all cylinders and ended the game by scoring 38 points in the second half.
Wildcat coach Shane Davis said he has never been involved in a game where his team scored on every possession but still lost. It was that kind of night.
In recent seasons, the two teams have played some “instant classics” on the gridiron. I still vividly recall the 2009 game in Loganville where the Red Devils went for a two-point conversion in overtime to spoil Apalachee’s perfect season. The Wildcat defense held and a wild celebration followed.
This past week was also a treat for those who were in attendance. It was a perfect night for football. The rain from earlier in the week had left but a coolness was in the air making it ideal for the players to compete at their maximum efforts. And that is just what they did.
Zay Henry, Jermaine Smith and Eric Tanner helped highlight the AHS offense. Linemen such as Josh Doman, Chris Guthrie, Chris Chapman and Sacorus Riley were having a field day in the trenches.
Coordinator Joel Miller helped direct the Wildcat offense to their best game of the season.
Even with no playoff spot on the line, coaches and players from both sidelines gave everything they had. It was clear the desire to win had not left any of them.
When Loganville’s quarterback got into the endzone with three seconds left, the reaction of the AHS coaches showed just how much they wanted to win. Davis and defensive coordinator Matt Sorrells both dropped to a knee, somewhat stunned by just what had taken place. While it was a great game to watch as a fan, it probably gave coaches on both sides nightmares.
In the end, the Wildcats were 4-2 in their final six games. Only close losses to Clarke Central and Loganville spoiled the final six contest. It was quite an accomplishment after starting 0-4 with some close calls among those contests.
The desire to get his program back to where he wants it, will no doubt consume Davis during the offseason. The coach has proven he’s a winner and that burning desire to succeed will be more evident than ever.
For me, I think I’ll remember Friday night’s game a little bit longer before looking ahead. There’s plenty of time to think about the 2012 campaign. For now, I will just think about that exciting game that two teams gave fans Friday night.
Chris Bridges is sports editor of the Barrow Journal. You can reach him at cbridges@barrowjournal.com.
