Sylvan Hills Coach Jim Withrow was nearly speechless. After a moment's pause, he finally summed up his thoughts.
[HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD: Full results + recaps, photos and more]
"I'm stunned," he said. "I'm just stunned."
Led by senior quarterback LeQuan Dorsey, a reserve at the position for most of the season, Watson Chapel used a last-minute drive and a two-point conversion with no time on the clock to take a 36-35 victory over Sylvan Hills at Blackwood Field in Sherwood in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs Friday night.
Dorsey was a wide receiver and backed up starting quarterback Jakobi Jackson through the first eight games of the season. Jackson was removed from Watson Chapel's roster because of a conflict with Coach Jared Dutton with two weeks left in the season.
Dorsey's role in the playoffs is secure. He completed 20 of 26 passes for 317 yards and 1 touchdown. He also rushed for 65 yards and two late fourth-quarter touchdowns that made the difference.
"I was always confident that we would find a way to win this game," Dorsey said. "I have faith in my teammates, and I felt good about every play our coach called."
"He's a great kid," Dutton said. "He was put in a very difficult situation this season, and he handled it like a champion from the start."
Dorsey faced another tough obstacle in his first playoff start.
Sylvan Hills led 21-0 at a halftime, but Dorsey's 5-yard touchdown run gave Watson Chapel (7-4) a 28-21 lead with 3:24 left in the game.
With 1:52 left, Sylvan Hills (9-2) tied the score with a 14-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jordan Washington to senior receiver Jamar Lane.
Sophomore Tito Mendoza pooched the following kickoff, which was recovered by Sylvan Hills' junior Darius Waddell at the Watson Chapel 38. One play after Washington was sacked, junior running back Deon Youngblood ran for a 45-yard touchdown that gave Sylvan Hills a 35-28 lead with 1:06 left.
"That was all the time we needed," Dutton said.
On the final drive, Dorsey passed incomplete to two wide-open receivers, but on third and 10 from Watson Chapel's 47, Dorsey threw for 49 yards to senior running back Davion White, who was run out of bounds at the Sylvan Hills 4 with two seconds left.
On the next play, Dorsey rolled to his left, saw no one open and ran in for the touchdown to cut Sylvan Hill's lead to 35-34 as time expired. Without hesitation, Dutton opted for a game-deciding two-point conversion play. This time Dorsey rolled right and tossed the game-winner to White, 3 yards deep in the end zone.
Watson Chapel had two first-half possessions stopped at Sylvan Hills' 4 and 3. In each case, Watson Chapel was stopped on downs after Dorsey threw incomplete in the end zone on fourth down.
At the finish, Dorsey decided to keep.
"He made a good adjustment," Dutton said. "That's what he does for us every time."
Youngblood led Sylvan Hills with 136 rushing yards.
Sports on 11/12/2016