Update: Pass leads Carver to wild come-from-behind victory
LAGRANGE, Ga. -- LAGRANGE, Ga. — Carver quarterback Jawon Pass was asked after after a frantic ending to his team’s contest against LaGrange on Saturday at Callaway Stadium exactly when he knew the game was over.
“When the clock hit zero,” Pass said.
In truth, it happened about four seconds prior. LaGrange kicker Michael Thomas’ 38-yard field goal try sailed inches wide to the right of the upright, allowing Carver to hang on for an improbable 51-50 victory over the Grangers to remain atop the Region 1-AAAAA standings. It is 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the region. LaGrange is 2-3 and 1-2.
Tigers coach Joe Kegler said he had never been in a game quite like Saturdays.
“And I hope I don’t (have to) ever again,” he added.
Pass orchestrated a 12-play, 80-yard drive, culminating in a 12-yard touchdown pass to Us Beasley with 2:52 remaining in the game that cut LaGrange’s lead to one point. Rather than kicking an extra point, Carver put the game in Pass’ hands, and he ran in the two-point conversion to ultimately give Carver the win.
It was a win that appeared impossible early in the contest.
The Tigers fell behind by what, at the time, appeared to be an insurmountable margin early in the first half. When LaGrange quarterback Laperion Perry hit wide receiver Dereiko Smith for an 18-yard touchdown 16 seconds into the second quarter for the team’s fourth touchdown in six minutes, the Tigers looked dead in the water.
But not to Kegler.
“I just told them they couldn’t score 28,” he said. “We have to get one first, then we can get back into the game.”
And not to Pass.
“The game wasn’t over,” Pass said when asked how his team didn’t quit. “It was only the first quarter. We just had to get on the scoreboard. After we got on the board, we could get a spark.”
Kegler asked his team to cut the lead in half by halftime. Instead, they carved three big chunks out of it, scoring three times to cut the lead to 28-21. Pass hit Jaquaze Gaines for a 17-yard touchdown, Kobe Hatcher returned a fumbled errant snap on a punt attempt the final 5 yards for a score, and Pass ran 39 yards for a touchdown.
The Tigers completely erased the deficit less than four minutes into the second half on their second possession of the third. After forcing a three-and-out, Pass hit Gerald Reid on the first play of the drive, play faking to the running back and finding his receiver over the top for a 46-yard touchdown pass.
And that’s when the fireworks began.
Over the course of the game’s final 15:58, the two team’s combined for 45 more points and changed the lead six times.
Perry hit Andrew Askew for a short 2-yard score on a third-and-goal to cap a nine-play drive with 3:58 left in the third. The Grangers forced a turnover on downs and had a chance to pull back away, but Carver forced a fumble, which was recovered by defensive back Javontay Smith.
The Tigers put together a 34-yard drive that culminated in a 1-yard sneak by Pass to bring them to within one point of the Grangers with 11:34 to play. Instead of tying the game, though, Carver elected to try its luck with a two-point conversion. Pass crossed the goal line easily on a keeper, to give the Tigers a 36-35 lead.
That lead was gone three plays later.
Perry ran right on a quarterback keeper from the Grangers’ 48-yard line, outrunning everyone 52 yards to the end zone to put his team back ahead 42-36 with 10:34 left.
Carver wasn’t quite as efficient in its response. It took four plays for it to score and regain the lead, when Pass found Jacobi Cunningham for a 63-yard touchdown pass with 9:44 left.
On LaGrange’s second play of its ensuing drive, it utilized some trickery for the second time of the game on a lateral from Perry to receiver Askew. Askew caught the ball and threw a 60-yard touchdown to a wide-open Smith. Askew tossed a 63-yarder to Mike Hardy earlier in the contest. Askew also caught a pass from Perry on the two-point try to make it 50-43 with 6:10 left.
Pass then led Carver down for the go-ahead score.
“He’s special,” Kegler said of his star quarterback, who is committed to play college ball at Louisville. “I don’t know what else to say. A lot of players would have given up, but they just found a way to win. … They’re too stubborn to quit. That’s what I love about them.”
Pass’ final line for the game was 15-of-28 passing for 292 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 119 yards and two touchdowns rushing, plus two successful two-point conversion tries.
The quarterback on the other sideline wasn’t half bad, either. Perry completed 21 of 33 passes for 238 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for 187 yards and two touchdowns.
David Mitchell, Follow David on Twitter @leprepsports.
Friday at LaGrange
Carver 0 14 14 23—51
LaGrange 21 7 7 15—50
First Quater
L—Andrew Askew 14 pass from Laperion Perry (Michael Thomas kick); 5:44
L—Perry 52 run (Thomas kick); 2:20
L—Mike Hardy 63 pass from Askew (Thomas kick); :40
Second Quarter
L—Dereiko Smith 18 pass from Perry (Thomas kick); 11:44
C—Jaquaze Gaines 17 pass from Jawon Pass (Christian Hernandez kick); 10:38
C—Kobe Hatcher 5 fumble return (Hernandez kick); 7:53
C—Pass 39 run (Hernandez kick); 2:53
Third Quarter
C—Gerald Reid 46 pass from Pass (Hernandez kick); 8:16
L—Askew 2 pass from Perry (Thomas kick); 3:58
Fourth Quarter
C—Pass 1 run (Pass run); 11:34
L—Perry 52 run (Thomas kick); 10:34
C—Jacobi Cunningham 63 pass from Pass (Hernandez kick); 9:44
L—Smith 60 pass from Askew (Askew pass from Perry); 6:10
C—Us Beasley 12 pass from Pass (Pass run); 2:52
Records: Carver, 5-1, 2-0; LaGrange, 2-3, 1-2. Next: Carver, Saturday vs. Shaw at Kinnett Stadium; LaGrange, Oct. 22 vs. Shaw at Kinnett Stadium.
This story was originally published October 10, 2015 at 11:41 PM with the headline "Update: Pass leads Carver to wild come-from-behind victory."