Sports

Heartbreak in Mobile ...
Indians fall with 2 seconds left

By Peggy Blackburn - Managing Editor
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The Indians’ 2007 season ended dramatically Friday night at Ladd-Peebles stadium in Mobile, as McGill-Toolen (12-0) scored with two seconds showing on the clock to go ahead of Wetumpka (10-2), 28-27 in the second round of the playoffs.

With the touchdown, the Yellow Jackets went ahead for the only time during the evening, as expressions of disbelief settled onto the faces of Indians players, coaches and fans.

McGill took the opening kick and went three and out. WHS took the ensuing kick and set up shop at midfield. Two plays later, Wetumpka scored on a 37-yard pass from quarterback Tevin Washington to Hunter Bush. Cam Stephens added the PAT for a 7-0 Indians lead with 9:36 left in the first period.

The Yellow Jackets made one first down on their next possession, then punted it away. WHS kept the ball for the next five-and-a-half minutes, driving from the 38 to the 11. A field goal attempt with 14 seconds remaining in the quarter was signaled no good.

McGill ran three plays, then Kejuan Riley intercepted a Cullen Wacker toss.

Wetumpka marched from the 14 to the Jackets’ 4, where on a third-and-goal a Marquez Buycks’ score was called back on a penalty. WHS pushed the ball back to the 10, where the second field goal attempt of the night was blocked.

The Yellow Jackets again went three-and-out. The Indians drove from their own 43 to the McGill 20 and a three-point try as time was running out on the half failed.

Wetumpka held the Jackets to a total of 39 yards offense and three first downs in the first half, and did not allow McGill to cross midfield. During the first two stanzas the Indians rolled up 237 total yards and nine first downs.

McGill’s first score came with 5:35 remaining in the third period. Starting from their own 34, the Yellow Jackets advanced via a passing attack, culminating in a 10-yard touchdown strike from Wacker to Torian Russell. The point after was good to tie the game 7-all.

Wetumpka answered with an 80-yard march. Washington connected on a 12-yard toss to Ikeem Means for a TD with 2:48 to go in the quarter. Bush’s extra point effort hit the crossbar, leaving WHS with a 13-7 advantage.

The Yellow Jackets went on the move, but on the first play of the fourth period Riley snagged another Wacker throw. The play was negated on an interference call. Two plays later, Riley picked the ball off again and returned it to the McGill 25.

The Indians’ Dontice Sanders rambled the final 8 yards for a score, and Stephens added the PAT to put Wetumpka up 20-7 with 9:39 left until the final buzzer.

McGill set up shop at the 26, then on a third-and-11 from the 25 Wacker completed a 17-yard pass to keep the drive alive. The Jackets put it in the end zone on a 40-yarder from Wacker to Jereme Jones at the 6:42 mark of the period. The point-after failed, but the gap closed to 20-13.

WHS struck back quickly, going 72 yards in six plays. Washington weaved his way through traffic for a 20-yard TD run. Stephens’ extra point put Wetumpka ahead 27-13 with 3:58 remaining in the game.

The Yellow Jackets put it in play at the 24, and 10 snaps later Wacker ran it in from the 7 for a score. The PAT was good, and McGill pulled to within seven, but the Indians held on to a 27-20 lead with only 1:45 left.

Wetumpka covered an onsides kick, but went three-and-out.

The Jackets went back into business at the 20. On a third-and 10 from the 20, WHS was called for pass interference to keep the McGill drive alive. The Jackets’ final score came on a 12-yard pass from Wacker to Quentin Petty.

After lining up to attempt the kick, the Yellow Jackets changed the play when Wetumpka was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and penalized half the distance. With the ball on the one-and-a-half, McGill sent Russell over the top and notched a two-point conversion.

The Indians finished the night with 196 yards on the ground and 244 in the air. Washington accounted for 210 yards of the passing total, going 14-of-17 with no interceptions.

McGill-Toolen ended the game with 57 yards rushing and 301 yards passing.

Wetumpka was penalized 9 times for 81 yards and the Yellow Jackets were flagged 4 times for 45 yards.

McGill advances to the third round of the Class 6A playoffs and will face Daphne Friday.

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