The Fort Benning Doughboys scored two touchdowns in the span of a minute and seconds, recovered an onside kick and converted a two-point conversion. But it wasn’t quite enough as the Team James All-Stars outlasted the Doughboys 42-34 Thursday at Doughboy Stadium in the Doughboys’ final game of the season.

They finished 2-3 on the year, with wins coming against LaGrange College and Columbus State’s club team, and losses to Georgia Military College, LaGrange and Team James.

Radio personality Ron Barr provided play-by-play of the game, which was broadcast on the 200-station Sports Byline USA network, SiriusXM Radio and the CRN Digital Talk Networks. The American Forces Network carried the game on 500 stations in 177 countries.

Team James was coached by Marcus James and composed of players from various semi-professional teams around the country.

The All-Stars squandered a 34-19 lead with 9:39 left in the fourth quarter and allowed Fort Benning to tie the game. But with 3:20 remaining, Team James mounted a seven-play, game-winning drive that started on its own 8-yard line.

Quarterbacks Telford Chapman and James Steadman proved to be a deadly duo as they combined for 15 plays of 15 yards or more. Steadman broke free for 35 yards down the sideline and later in the drive hit Antonio Beardan for a 43-yard pass that gave Team James a first-and-goal at the Fort Benning 9-yard line. Running back Frank Anthony cashed in from 1 yard away with 25 seconds remaining, and Steadman converted a two-point conversion to go up 42-34.

A Hail Mary pass by Doughboys quarterback Blake Powers fell incomplete as time expired to send Fort Benning out with a disappointing loss.

“I’m proud of the way we fought back and showed heart and spirit,” Powers said. “But the only thing going through my mind right now is a couple of throws I should have made. I just wish we could have won.”

Trailing 26-3, Fort Benning scored its first touchdown on a fourth down with 5 seconds remaining in the first half. Powers zipped a pass into the back of the end zone to Anthony Neloms, who barely got his feet down in bounds.

Powers, who struggled in the first half, led the Doughboys on two quick touchdown drives. Powers went 6-for-11 in the fourth quarter for 104 yards, threw for one touchdown and ran for another.

“We wanted to come out (in the second half) running the ball, but they were stuffing it,” Fort Benning head coach Jason Gibson said. “Blake just got hot and the receivers got hot and we had a lot of success throwing the ball. We had guys make some great catches.”

Powers hit Neloms once again from 6 yards out with 4:20 remaining to cap a 5-minute drive to make it 34-26.

The Doughboys surprised the All-Stars on the ensuing kickoff with a successful onside kick.

After a 43-yard pass to Neloms that put the Doughboys at the Team James 1-yard line, Powers ran a quarterback sneak for the touchdown and then passed to Owen Blea to convert the tying two-point try.

“Our guys didn’t give up,” Gibson said. “Our coaches at halftime made a great adjustment. It’s fun for me to be able to coach these guys, come in at halftime, make an adjustment and see them carry it out.”

The game was delayed for about 15 minutes due to what looked like a severe injury suffered by Jesse Lawson. Gibson said Monday that Lawson had only suffered a concussion.

The Doughboys tried to run a trick play on a fourth-and-goal where running back Emmanuel Batson tried to pass to a wide-open Lawson. However, the pass hung in the air, giving a Team James defender a free shot at Lawson, who hit the ground and was temporarily knocked out. Lawson remained nearly motionless as paramedics carted him off the field to an ambulance.

Despite the loss, Gibson said he was glad the season ended with his players fighting for a win.

“There were a lot of ups and downs,” Gibson said. “I wanted to win the game, but to see us grow tonight … what an exciting game to be a part of.”

Powers said he hopes to have the opportunity to play again next year if football returns but is unsure whether he will still be stationed at Fort Benning.

“It was unbelievable,” he said of the season. “These coaches did an amazing job putting forth so much time and effort. They really taught us a lot about football.”

Meanwhile, Gibson said if he is invited back, he will not give a second thought about his answer.

“Without a doubt,” he said. “I’m definitely coming back.”