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In the frantic seconds on Escambia’s sideline to opt for a win-or-lose play to define a season, Gators’ head coach Mike Bennett was decisive.
He called for the pop pass.
It proved to burst open a celebration.
Quarterback Nino Freeman finalized his own redemption Friday in a dramatic way, smoothly pulling off a stop-and-jump, two-point conversion pass to defensive lineman Adrian Battle – known as Buck – who cradled the ball a split second before it could be batted away, lifting the Gators to an improbable 29-28 victory in overtime against Jacksonville-Riverside in their Region 1-4A quarterfinal playoff game.
The Gators swarmed in glee at Emmitt Smith Field, after winning a state playoff game that moments earlier seemed destined to go Riverside’s way.
“Just a great play, a great football game,” Bennett said. “We had three plays there we could have run, but we wanted to get the ball to Buck. He has the best hands on the team. Number 10, he don’t drop nothing.”
The play followed an improbable, do-or-die, fourth-down touchdown pass that Freeman made to Ladarian Clardy, after taking a snap from the 9 and scrambling to find Clardy through traffic in the end zone.
“Me and my quarterback have been playing with each other for a couple years now,” Clardy said. “We’ve got that type of bond. We’ve got that type of connection. Whenever I’m not open, I’m just going to find the right spots to get open.”
After the touchdown, Escambia lined up to kick the extra point and force a second overtime. But Riverside jumped offsides.
Immediately, offensive coordinator Brett Bennett raced to tell his father it was time to go for broke, go for two to win the game. A timeout then ensued.
“We had about three plays,” said Mike Bennett, whose team will next make a short trip to Fort Walton Beach to face Choctawhatchee…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/win-lose-escambia-football-wins-064914212.html
Author : Pensacola News Journal
Publish date : 2024-11-16 06:49:14
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