Ben E Lou
11-22-2003, 08:29 AM
Ya gotta love it.
An audible with 1:07 to play and no timeouts, to win a playoff game. (http://www.ajc.com/highschool/content/sports/highschool/1103/22swd.html)
Ward calls his own number for game-winner
By CRAIG CUSTANCE
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer
Eric Ward saw an opening. With 1:07 left in the game, and trailing by four, the Southwest DeKalb quarterback changed plays. There were too many Sequoyah defenders lining up where the play was supposed to go, so Ward called his own number. Without any timeouts, the Panthers needed to get in the end zone. Six yards stood in the way.
It was a risky call, but it paid off. Ward took the snap and sprinted right for the touchdown. It was Southwest DeKalb's first lead of the game, and it held.
The Panthers advance to face South Gwinnett, beating the higher-seeded Chiefs 24- 21 in the final minute in Canton.
"I was going to get in there," Ward said. "I was getting in there, no doubt."
The touchdown capped a fourth-quarter comeback led by Ward. Trailing 21-10 after three quarters, the Panthers dominated the fourth.
Ward connected with Larry Younger early in the fourth quarter for a 24-yard touchdown pass and started the final drive on Southwest's 34 with 2:12 remaining in the game.
He quickly completed a 16-yard pass to Hezekiah Ross. Two plays later, Ward connected with Omari Crawford for 31 yards to move the ball inside Sequoyah's 20. Ward scrambled his way to the 6, before scoring the game-winner.
"I hope this is the beginning of the new-wave quarterback here," Southwest DeKalb coach Buck Godfrey said. "We've had some good ones. Quincy Carter was one of ours.
"I just hope we can follow in that tradition."
It was a game of gambles. Ward's paid off at the end, but Sequoyah tried a few times as well. Facing fourth-and-9 on Southwest's 31-yard line in the third quarter, the Chiefs opted to go for the end zone. Tony Pastore completed a touchdown pass to senior receiver Michael Murphy.
It was one of two touchdown passes for the junior quarterback.
"We had opportunities to make plays," Sequoyah coach Sid Maxwell said. "You have to make those plays. They made them, and we didn't. That's how you get beat."
Southwest DeKalb 0 10 0 14 -- 24
Sequoyah 7 7 7 0 -- 21
S -- Chris Watkins 1 run (David Walker kick)
SWD -- FG Micah Streiff 22
S -- Danny Payne 16 catch from Tony Pastore (Walker kick)
SWD -- Hezekiah Ross 1 run (Streiff kick)
S -- Michael Murphy 33 pass from Pastore (Walker kick)
SWD -- Larry Younger 24 pass from Eric Ward (Streiff kick)
SWD -- Ward 6 run (Streiff kick)
An audible with 1:07 to play and no timeouts, to win a playoff game. (http://www.ajc.com/highschool/content/sports/highschool/1103/22swd.html)
Ward calls his own number for game-winner
By CRAIG CUSTANCE
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer
Eric Ward saw an opening. With 1:07 left in the game, and trailing by four, the Southwest DeKalb quarterback changed plays. There were too many Sequoyah defenders lining up where the play was supposed to go, so Ward called his own number. Without any timeouts, the Panthers needed to get in the end zone. Six yards stood in the way.
It was a risky call, but it paid off. Ward took the snap and sprinted right for the touchdown. It was Southwest DeKalb's first lead of the game, and it held.
The Panthers advance to face South Gwinnett, beating the higher-seeded Chiefs 24- 21 in the final minute in Canton.
"I was going to get in there," Ward said. "I was getting in there, no doubt."
The touchdown capped a fourth-quarter comeback led by Ward. Trailing 21-10 after three quarters, the Panthers dominated the fourth.
Ward connected with Larry Younger early in the fourth quarter for a 24-yard touchdown pass and started the final drive on Southwest's 34 with 2:12 remaining in the game.
He quickly completed a 16-yard pass to Hezekiah Ross. Two plays later, Ward connected with Omari Crawford for 31 yards to move the ball inside Sequoyah's 20. Ward scrambled his way to the 6, before scoring the game-winner.
"I hope this is the beginning of the new-wave quarterback here," Southwest DeKalb coach Buck Godfrey said. "We've had some good ones. Quincy Carter was one of ours.
"I just hope we can follow in that tradition."
It was a game of gambles. Ward's paid off at the end, but Sequoyah tried a few times as well. Facing fourth-and-9 on Southwest's 31-yard line in the third quarter, the Chiefs opted to go for the end zone. Tony Pastore completed a touchdown pass to senior receiver Michael Murphy.
It was one of two touchdown passes for the junior quarterback.
"We had opportunities to make plays," Sequoyah coach Sid Maxwell said. "You have to make those plays. They made them, and we didn't. That's how you get beat."
Southwest DeKalb 0 10 0 14 -- 24
Sequoyah 7 7 7 0 -- 21
S -- Chris Watkins 1 run (David Walker kick)
SWD -- FG Micah Streiff 22
S -- Danny Payne 16 catch from Tony Pastore (Walker kick)
SWD -- Hezekiah Ross 1 run (Streiff kick)
S -- Michael Murphy 33 pass from Pastore (Walker kick)
SWD -- Larry Younger 24 pass from Eric Ward (Streiff kick)
SWD -- Ward 6 run (Streiff kick)